Montana Supreme Court Candidate Katherine Bidegaray Holds Meet & Greet In Sidney

Montana 7th Judicial District Judge Katherine Bidegaray held a meet and greet with area residents on Dec. 7 at the Sidney Yellowstone Mercantile in downtown Sidney. Bidegaray is running for the seat of Montana State Supreme Court Associate Justice currently held by Dirk Sandefur.

Bidegaray is a native Montanan, born in Sidney and raise on a farm/ranch in rural Richland County. After finishing high school in Culbertson, she attended the University of Montana and received her B.A.s in political science and philosophy. She then received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana School of Law.

Bidegaray began her professional career serving as an Insurance Department Staff Attorney, and later as Deputy Securities Commissioner at the Montana State Auditor's Office. Upon her return to Eastern Montana, Bidegaray practiced law in Sidney involving estate planning, probate, real estate transactions, agricultural law, oil and gas, family law and criminal law. She also served as a hearing examiner for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. In 2002, she was elected to the District Court bench of the Montana 7th Judicial District which includes Richland, Dawson, Wibaux, McCone and Prairie counties. Bidegaray is currently serving her fourth term as Montana District Court Judge.

"As a judge I've tried always to act with impartiality, independence, rationality, fairness and reasonableness while developing and relying upon a good knowledge of the law," Bidegaray stated. "I have consistently set aside my personal preferences to decide cases."

Bidegaray's main goals as Montana Supreme Court Justice are to protect Montanan's rights, public lands and provide checks and balances to the executive and legislative branches of government. "We are living in times of unprecedented attacks on the judiciary, individual rights and the rule of law. All of which are key to a healthy democracy," she said. "Basically, we need people on the Montana Supreme Court who are committed to the separation of powers that our Montana constitution requires, who understand the critical importance of an independent judiciary and who cherish the preservation of the rule of law."

For more information about Bidegaray's campaign or to make a donation visit her campaign website bidegarayformontana.com or the campaign Facebook page "Bidegaray for Montana Supreme Court".