James A. Rice

James A. Rice
Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
Assumed office
March 15, 2001
Governor Judy Martz
Preceded by Karla M. Gray
Personal details
Born (1957-11-15) November 15, 1957
CFS Ramore, Ontario, Canada
Spouse(s) Norine
Children 3
Education Montana State University, Bozeman (BA)
University of Montana School of Law (JD)

James A. Rice (born November 15, 1957[1]) is an American attorney, judge, and politician. He is one of the six Associate Justices currently on the Montana Supreme Court. Rice won an unopposed retention vote in 2014; his current term will expire in 2022.

Rice was born to parents in the United States Military who were stationed at Ramore Air Force Base, near Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada.[1] Rice grew up in eastern Montana, and graduated in 1975.[1] He obtained his pilot's license at 17, and worked in aviation-related jobs while attending Montana State University.[1] He graduated with a B.A. in political science in 1979, and then earned a J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 1982.[1] Rice subsequently worked as a public defender in Lewis and Clark County for four years.[1]

He was elected to three terms in the Montana House of Representatives, and served as House Majority Whip in the 1993 session.[1] He became a partner in the law firm of Jackson & Rice in Helena, Montana, in 1985.[1] On March 15, 2001, he was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court[1] after appointment by Governor Judy Martz.[2] Rice filled the seat vacated by Karla M. Gray when she was elected Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, November 2000.[2] In 2002, Rice won election to the remainder of the judicial term to which he was appointed.[1] In 2006, he won an unopposed retention vote.[1] In 2014, he defeated W. David Herbert to win a third term.[3]

Legal offices
Preceded by
Karla M. Gray		 Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
2001–present		 Incumbent

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "courts.mt.gov > supreme > bios > rice". courts.mt.gov. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  2. 1 2 Billings, Erin P. (February 23, 2001). "Rice gets high court seat". Independent Record.
  3. ↑ https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/wheat-rice-win-re-election-to-montana-supreme-court/article_0b6449cc-64b2-11e4-80a4-6be7969980c7.html
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