- The Clerk of District Court is the official keeper of all District Court records for the County. These records include adoption, civil, criminal, guardianship, juvenile, paternity, probate, and sanity cases. 
- The Clerk also issues, files, and records marriage license applications and licenses. 
- The Clerk also serves as Jury Commissioner, responsible for accurately listing all selected and potential jurors and pulling jury panels for judges.

Maintains judicial records, issues marriage licenses, and pulls jury panels.

Hill

Montana

2024 Montana General Election

Judicial Administration

Clerk of the District Court

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county level. These laws show up in tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property taxes, providing recreational amenities, and maintaining county property.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government, such as personnel management, communications, and appointments for advisory boards.
- County Commissioners in Montana are typically elected to 6-year terms in staggered years. Counties may change the Commissioners' term length if they wish. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district. 

Creates new laws, levies property taxes, and passes the budget for your county.

Public Transportation

Public Health

Public Services

Energy & the Environment

Economy

Public Safety

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Healthcare

County Commissioner

Lake

- The county clerk maintains all official records for the county commission. The clerk and recorder's office also issues birth and death certificates and files and keeps real estate documents.
- In some counties, the clerk and recorder's office is also responsible for elections administration and voting records.
- The county auditor ensures the county's compliance with local, state, and federal laws and general accounting practices. Auditors examine the county's books to ensure proper handling of public funds.
- The only state requirements to be elected to this role are being of voting age and living in the county for at least two years. Typically, a term lasts four years. 

Official record keeper for the county and responsible for ensuring proper management of public funds.

Corruption

Administration

County Clerk & Recorder/Auditor/Public Administrator

- As County Treasurer, this individual is responsible for receiving, safely keeping, and disbursing all county funds, ensuring proper handling of public money as required by law. Furthermore, the treasurer is tasked with record keeping of all transactions and the budgetary status of the county. 
- As County Assessor, this individual is responsible for assessing private property and business taxes to determine how much is owed. They keep tax records, ensure accuracy, and issue refunds. 

Manage and disburse all county funds and assess property taxes.

Housing Costs

Financial Management

Taxes

County Treasurer & Assessor

Missoula

- County Attorneys, either elected or appointed, represent their county and the state in legal matters within their jurisdiction and provide legal advice to the county and its various departments and agencies.
- They prosecute all felony crimes, which are serious offenses like robbery or assault, within the county and handle misdemeanors, which are less severe crimes like petty theft or vandalism, outside city limits.
- A County Attorney may work full-time or part-time depending on the county's population. Part-time County Attorneys can have a private practice and offer private legal advice, provided it doesn't conflict with their official duties.

Is the lead prosecutor and legal advisor of the county.

Legal Experience

Criminal Justice

County Attorney

- Montana District Courts are central to the state’s judicial system, handling most major legal proceedings and providing a pathway for appeals from lower courts.
- Montana District Court Judges handle a wide variety of cases, including all serious criminal charges and smaller felonies. These courts also take on major civil disputes and state financial claims.
- In civil matters, these judges deal with wills and estates (probate), disputes over contracts and property ownership, and other non-criminal legal issues.
- These judges also have the authority to review decisions made by smaller local courts within their jurisdiction, as allowed by state law and the Constitution.
Judges in the District Courts are elected by the public in their districts, emphasizing the importance of community representation.

2024 Montana candidates

Hill Clerk of the District Court

1 candidate

Hill County Commissioner, District 3

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Lake Clerk of the District Court

1 candidate

Lake County Commissioner, District 3

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Lake County Clerk & Recorder/Auditor/Public Administrator

1 candidate

Lake County Treasurer & Assessor

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Missoula County Commissioner, District 3

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Missoula Clerk of the District Court

1 candidate

Missoula County Attorney

1 candidate

Montana District Court Judge, District 1

1 candidate

How this impacts you