← Federal courts · Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Montana
A federal trial (district) court in the Ninth Circuit. 3 active judges and 3 on senior status (semi-retired, still hearing some cases), per the Federal Judicial Center.
No left–right score is calculated for lower-court judges. The appointing president is shown instead (a common, but rough, signal).
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Who appointed the current judges
Judges
| Judge | Status | Appointed by | Commissioned | Senate confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Matthew Morris Chief Judge | Active | D Barack Obama | Dec 17, 2013 | Dec 12, 2013 · roll call 75–20 |
| William Walter Mercer | Active | R Donald J. Trump | Nov 6, 2025 | Oct 22, 2025 · roll call 52–45 (Voteview) |
| Kathleen Smithgall Lane | Active | R Donald J. Trump | Jun 18, 2026 | Jun 2, 2026 · roll call 52–46 (Voteview) |
| Donald W. Molloy | Senior status since Aug 16, 2011 | D William J. Clinton | Aug 1, 1996 | Jul 18, 1996 · voice vote |
| Dana Lewis Christensen | Senior status since Nov 7, 2025 | D Barack Obama | Dec 6, 2011 | Dec 5, 2011 · voice vote |
| Susan Pamela Watters | Senior status since Jun 8, 2026 | D Barack Obama | Dec 18, 2013 | Dec 12, 2013 · roll call 77–19 |
Source: Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges. “Commissioned” is the date the appointment took effect. Confirmation votes are as listed by the FJC (ayes–nays); recent roll calls link to Voteview where found.