James A. Rice

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 Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1979, and then earned a Juris Doctor 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]