Ingrid Gustafson

American judge (born 1961)

Ingrid Gustafson

Justice of the Montana Supreme Court

Incumbent

Assumed office
January 2018
Appointed by| Steve Bullock
Preceded by| Mike Wheat
Personal details
Born|  (1961-12-11) December 11, 1961 (age 63)
Laramie, Wyoming, U.S.
Education| Montana State University (BS)
University of Montana (JD)

Ingrid G. Gustafson (born December 11, 1961)[1] is an associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court. She was appointed in December 2017 by Governor Steve Bullock to fill the seat of retiring Justice Mike Wheat.[2] She ran unopposed in 2018 for the remainder of Wheat's term. In 2022, Gustafson ran against James Brown, winning an eight year term.

## History

[edit]

Gustafson was born in Wyoming and moved to Montana in 1972.[1] She attended Montana State University on a skiing scholarship and graduated with honors in 1983.[1] She was named to the MSU Hall of Fame for her skiing accomplishments in college.[3] Gustafson obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Montana Law School in 1988, again with honors.[4]

Gustafson worked as a staff attorney for the Social Security Administration for two years,[1] and entered private practice in 1991. In that period, she also was a public defender in Rosebud County, Montana. From 1996 until 2004 she was a managing partner at the law firm Graves, Toennis and Gustafson in Billings, Montana.[1]

Gustafson was appointed as District Judge of Montana's 13th Judicial District by former Governor Judy Martz, and took the bench in 2004.[1] She succeeded retiring District Judge and former Montana Supreme Court justice Diane Barz.[1] She was re-elected to the bench in 2004, 2006 and 2012.[2][4] Gustafson helped create Yellowstone County's drug court in 2010.[5] This was Montana's first felony drug court.[6]

In 2017, she became the first justice appointed to the Montana Supreme Court rather than elected. She was chosen by Governor Bullock to replace Mike Wheat who retired effective December 31.[2] She then ran unopposed in 2018.[7] That election was for the remaining four years of Wheat's term.[8]

In 2022, Gustafson ran a costly campaign against James Brown, a Helena based attorney. The race ended up as having the most money ever spent in a Montana Supreme Court race.[9] Even though the election is non-partisan, special interest groups spent a significant amount of money on the race.[7] Montana Free Press reported $3 million spent by outside groups.[7] Montana Republican leaders supported Brown early in his campaign, setting the stage for an election with partisanship overtones.[10] Gustafson won with 54% of the votes.

As of 2024, she is Vice President of the Montana Judges Association.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Johnson, Charles S. (November 21, 2003). "Gustafson named to court seat by Martz". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
2. ^ a b c Tollefson, Phoebe. "Billings judge Ingrid Gustafson named to Montana Supreme Court". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
3. ^ "Hall of Fame Gustafson, Ingrid". Montana State Un. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
4. ^ a b c "Justice Ingrid Gustafson". Montana Judicial Branch. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
5. ^ Staff, ED KEMMICK Of The Gazette. "Judge Gustafson to launch adult drug court". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
6. ^ "Election Guide '22 Ingid Gustafson". Montana Free Press. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
7. ^ a b c Silvers, Mara (November 9, 2022). "Gustafson retains state Supreme Court seat over challenger Brown". Montana Free Press. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
8. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (September 30, 2018). "Montana Supreme Court justices Baker, Gustafson seeking another term". KTVH. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
9. ^ "Ingrid Gustafson reflects on high-dollar, hard-fought Montana Supreme Court race". KTVQ. November 10, 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
10. ^ Nerbovig, Ashley (October 25, 2022). "Race for Montana Supreme Court Justice 2 generates spending, partisanship". KTVH. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Ingrid Gustafson at Ballotpedia

Legal offices

Preceded by

Mike Wheat

|  Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
2018–present  | Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Statewide political officials of Montana

U.S. senators|

* Steve Daines
* Tim Sheehy

State government|

* Greg Gianforte, Governor
* Kristen Juras, Lieutenant Governor
* Christi Jacobsen, Secretary of State
* Austin Knudsen, Attorney General
* Vacant, Auditor
* Elsie Arntzen, Superintendent

Senate|

* Jason Ellsworth, President
* Kenneth Bogner, President pro tempore
* Steve Fitzpatrick, Majority Leader
* Pat Flowers, Minority Leader

House|

* Matt Regier, Speaker
* Rhonda Knudsen, Speaker pro tempore
* Sue Vinton, Majority Leader
* Kim Abbott, Minority Leader

Supreme Court|

* Mike McGrath, Chief Justice
* Laurie McKinnon
* James Rice
* Beth Baker
* Jim Shea
* Dirk Sandefur
* Ingrid Gustafson, Associate Justices
* Bowen Greenwood, Clerk

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