City Commissioners voted unanimously during their Jan. 20 meeting to appoint Cassidy Blomgren, a current city prosecutor, to fill the municipal court judge vacancy created by Judge Steve Bolstad’s retirement.
Blomgren will serve for the remainder of Bolstad’s term through Dec. 31, 2027 and then will have to run for the regular four-year term in 2027.
She will receive a starting salary of $119,859.75. State law sets municipal court judge salaries at 75 percent of district court judges.
City Commission interviewing Municipal Court judge candidates Jan. 16
Commissioners interviewed Blomgren and the other two candidates, Cayle Halberg, a private attorney, and Theresa Diekhans, a current deputy county attorney on Jan. 16.
Bolstad announced his retirement in December, effective Jan. 1. The city accepted applications through Jan. 8, receiving three.
City accepting applications for municipal judge [2025]
Since it’s an elected position, state law requires that commissioners fill the vacancy within 30 days of Bolstad’s retirement.
Commissioner Shannon Wilson moved to appoint Blomgren, seconded by Commissioner Rick Tryon.
Tryon said it was a “tough decision” as all three applicants were qualified.
He said the other two candidates who weren’t appointed could run for the position in 2027.
Commissioner Casey Schreiner, who took his seat in January, said in this case, the commission received a number of recommendation letters from the public supporting Blomgren.
Bolstad retiring as Great Falls Municipal Court, city will appoint new judge
Those letters were not included in the meeting packets for the interviews or the appointment.
After Wilson moved and Tryon seconded, David Dennis, city attorney, said that he recommended setting the effective date for appointment as Jan. 30 to meet the legal requirements but give the selected candidate time to wrap up their current job.
Commissioners ultimately voted to appoint Blomgren with the Jan. 30 start date after some confusion with their motions.
Candidates for appointment must meet the same qualifications as district court judges under state law, except that municipal court judges need only be admitted to the practice of law in Montana for at least three years prior to the date of election/appointment, be a resident and qualified elector in the city at the time of appointment or election and be certified under state law prior to assuming office.
City seeking applications for new judge position [2023]
Municipal court judges manage the court, maintain a central docket, set jury trials, supervise the seven court staff and handle all administrative court issues.
As a city elected official, judges received a benefits package of health, vision, dental, life insurance and participation in Montana’s Public Employee Retirement System.
