About
20 Years of Experience as a Judge, 5 of Them on the Montana Supreme Court
Experienced. Independent.
Please vote to re-elect me, Justice Ingrid Gustafson, to serve all Montanans on the Montana Supreme Court.
Since graduating from the Law School at the University of Montana, I spent 16 years practicing law followed by 14 years serving Montanans as a District Court Judge in Yellowstone County. In my private practice, I represented ordinary people including farmers and ranchers, office workers, teachers, accountants, business owners, doctors, firefighters, and government workers. As a District Court Judge, I presided over 1000s of cases in almost all areas of the law. From my work as an attorney and judge I understand people and their problems matter—people with problems need access to the courts and they need attorneys and judges who are good problem solvers to help them resolve their issues.
As continually reported, drug addiction is taking its toll on our country and Montana is not immune to this. In 2011, I started the 13th Judicial District’s Felony Drug Court to provide offenders with substance use disorders, court and treatment services to give them the tools and incentives necessary to address their substance use issues and become productive, law-abiding citizens. While presiding over this court, I witnessed transformative change in participants’ lives while also saving taxpayers considerable money. People matter.
In 2011, I also initiated a pilot judicial improvement project in the area of child welfare to improve family reunification rates and reduce case processing times. Since its inception to my transition to the Montana Supreme Court, the incidence of termination of parental rights was one-third its prior rate and case processing time decreased 40%. This work highlights how small, consistent changes can improve child and family well-being while also saving taxpayers money. People matter.
In December 2017, I was appointed to the Montana Supreme Court (MTSC) and then elected in 2018. Since transitioning to the MTSC I have continued to advance evidence-based criminal justice and child welfare reforms. I am the MTSC’s sitting member on the Court Improvement Program (CIP), a Congressionally created program that aims to improve court practice in child welfare work. Through CIP, I am working to provide ongoing judicial education to Montana’s district court judges and to implement best practices in child welfare work across Montana’s judicial districts. People matter.
From my nearly twenty years of judicial experience, I understand the gravity of judicial decisions and the significant impact those decisions have on litigants. I also understand the Supreme Court’s responsibility to clearly provide consistent guidance to trial courts, attorneys, and Montanans. I have not and do not take the responsibility and trust placed in me lightly. I will continue to work hard, study the law, and strive to make principled, well-reasoned decisions.
The Montana Supreme Court is critical to Montanans and vital to the economic vitality of our state. Consistency in the interpretation and application of our Constitution and laws is of paramount importance. Montana’s Constitution guarantees some of the most robust individual rights of any state. Our Supreme Court is charged with upholding those rights, assuring our laws are interpreted and imposed consistently, and applying principles of due process, fairness, and equal protection for all.
Montana is our wonderful state and I am proud to be a Montanan! I’ve enjoyed skiing, fishing, hiking, rafting, and recreational opportunities with family and friends and I’ve been lucky to raise my children here. We have a unique Constitution that provides us rights to recreate and enjoy the great outdoors of our state. We should cherish these rights.
I ask for your support – by word of mouth, making a contribution, and/or giving a public endorsement.
