Chief Justice McGrath to appoint one of five applicants to new water court position

May 6, 2012

Montana: The Montana Judicial Nominating Commission has forwarded five applicants to Chief Justice Mike McGrath, who has 30 days to pick who will become Montana's new associate water court judge. The new water court position was created by the 2011 legislature.

The applicants

• Michael J. L. Cusick is a lawyer from Bozeman, Montana. He served as a law clerk to former Supreme Court Associate Justice R.C. McDonough from 1989-1991. Cusick was a water master on the Water Court from 1991 to 1998. He earned a B.S. from Montana State University in 1986 and a J.D. from the University of Montana in 1989.

• Douglas Ritter is a Senior Water Master for the Water Court. He earned a B.A. from Montana State University and a J.D. from the University of Montana.

• Matthew W. Williams is a lawyer from Bozeman, Montana. His practice focuses on Water Rights and Natural Resources Law. He earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

• Donald D. MacIntyre is a lawyer from Helena, Montana. His practice focuses on Energy, Agricultural, Administrative, and Natural Resources Law. He earned a B.S. from the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology and a J.D. from the University of Montana.

• Russell McElyea is a lawyer from Big Sky, Montana. His practice focuses on Water Law, Real Estate, and Land Use Planning. He earned a B.S. from Northern Arizona University and a J.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder.