Mike Menahan
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Mike Menahan is a judge for the 1st District Court in Montana. He was elected without opposition on November 6, 2012, and his term expires in 2018.[1][2]
Menahan is a former Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing the 82nd District from 2009 to 2013.
Education
Menahan graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in political science and from the University of Montana School of Law with a J.D.[3]
Career
Before serving on the 1st District Court, Menahan worked as Lewis and Clark County's deputy county attorney for 17 years.[4]
Political career
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Menahan served on these committees in the Montana House of Representatives:
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Menahan served on these committees in the Montana House of Representatives:
Elections
2012
- See also: Montana judicial elections, 2012
Menahan ran unopposed and was elected the 1st District Court. Dorothy McCarter did not run for re-election.[1][2]
2010
On November 2, 2010, Menahan won election to the Montana House of Representatives. He did not have any opposition in the June 8 primary. Kristi Allen-Gailushas ran for the seat on the Republican ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.
| Montana House of Representatives, District 82 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Mike Menahan (D)
|
2,312 | |||
| Kristi Allen-Gailushas (R) | 1,578 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Mike Menahan won the District 82 seat on the Montana House of Representatives, receiving 3,115 votes.
Menahan raised $21,443 for his campaign.[5]
| Montana House of Representatives, District 82 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Mike Menahan (D)
|
3,115 | |||
| Chris Sinrud (R) | 1,720 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Noteworthy events
Supreme court candidate not eligible to run in 2014, Menahan rules
Lawrence VanDyke filed to run for a position on the Montana Supreme Court against incumbent Michael E. Wheat in the November 2014 election. However, on April 25, 2014, Judge Menahan ordered that he be removed from the ballot for failing to meet eligibility requirements.
Montana Supreme Court candidates must be admitted to practice law in the state for at least five years. VanDyke was admitted to practice in Montana in 2005, but he went on inactive bar status from 2007 to 2012 while practicing in another state. He regained active status in early 2013. By the time of the November 2014 election, Judge Menahan found, Van Dyke would have only been an active member of the Montana State Bar for a total of three years and three months.[6]
Judge Menahan explained:
| “ | Although the parties have cited numerous out-of-state authority to assist in the analysis of the question, this court’s conclusion rests largely upon the plain language of the Montana Constitution and the constitution and by-laws of the State Bar of Montana.[7] | ” |
| —Judge Mike Menahan[6] | ||
Following the ruling, VanDyke stated:
| “ | This case has been brought by Mike Wheat campaign donors to eliminate the competition by lawsuit. We will appeal to the Supreme Court and fully expect Justice Wheat and Chief Justice (Mike) McGrath to recuse themselves since they are both prominent donors to his re-election campaign.[7] | ” |
| —Lawrence VanDyke[8] | ||
Update
In July 2014, the Montana Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to overturn Menahan's decision.[9] Although VanDyke's name appeared on the November 2014 ballot as a candidate for supreme court justice, he lost to incumbent Wheat.[10]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Menahan and his wife, Stacy, have two children.[11]
See also
- News: Menahan running unopposed for 1st Judicial District, March 30, 2012
- News: Menahan to run for Judge McCarter's position in 2012, September 27, 2011
External links
- Montana House of Representatives - Rep. Mike Menahan
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010, 2010, 2008
- Montana Judicial Branch, "1st Judicial District," accessed April 28, 2014
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Independent Record, "One-man race: Mike Menahan unopposed for district judge seat," March 17, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Montana Secretary of State, "2012 Official General Election Results," accessed December 1, 2015
- ↑ Montana Lee Newspapers, "Legislator running for district judge," September 22, 2011
- ↑ Independent Record, "Menahan running for judge seat; two Democrats vying for legislative seat," September 22, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Mike Menahan," 2008 (dead link)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ravalli Republic, "Judge orders VanDyke off ballot," April 25, 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Missoulian, "Judge orders Montana Supreme Court candidate removed from ballot," April 25, 2014
- ↑ Billings Gazette, "VanDyke back on ballot for Montana Supreme Court," July 22, 2014
- ↑ Montana Public Radio, "Mike Wheat Fends Off Outside Money To Keep Supreme Court Seat," November 4, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Mike Menahan's Biography," accessed December 1, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Montana House of Representatives District 82 2009–2013 |
Succeeded by Jenny Eck (D) |
