Experience

Montana District Judge Katherine Bidegaray

2003-Present: District Court Judge, State of Montana, Seventh Judicial District

  • Preside as a general jurisdiction trial judge for a five-county judicial district in the State of Montana.

  • Exercise jurisdiction over criminal felonies, civil matters of unlimited amounts, family law, abuse and neglect, probates, youth court and involuntary mental commitments.

  • Manage appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction.

  • Served on Montana Supreme Court Sentence Review Division, 2006-2009, to review whether sentences should be increased, decreased, or left as imposed.

  • Implemented treatment courts for the judicial district:

    • Youth Treatment Court in 2006.

    • Adult Treatment Court in 2008.

    • DUI Treatment Court in 2010.

1989-2003: Attorney, Sidney, Montana

  • Engaged in the general law practice.

  • Practice areas included estate planning, probate, real estate, consumer issues, agriculture, oil and gas, family and criminal defense.

1987-1989: Deputy Securities Commissioner, Montana State Auditor’s Office, Helena, Montana

  • Coordinated the prosecution of violations of the Securities Act of Montana with various law enforcement agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Attorney and numerous Montana County Attorneys.

  • Drafted legislation and lobbied during one legislative session.

1985-1987: Insurance Staff Attorney, Montana State Auditor’s Office, Helena

  • Represented the Montana Insurance Department in administrative actions involving alleged licensing violations and unfair trade practices by insurance agents and insurers.

  • Drafted legislation and represented the Montana State Auditor’s Office during two legislative sessions of the Montana State Legislature.

  • Teaching Assistant, Montana Defender Project, University of Montana.

1984-1985: University of Montana Law School Defender Project

  • Represented prisoners at the Montana State Prison, Women's Correctional Facility, and Swan River Youth Camp in sentence review hearings and with post-conviction matters.

  • Assisted with compiling a brief bank and statewide sentencing statistics.

Publications/Presentations

  • Continuing Legal Education Presentations on various topics, including Wills, Estate Planning, Gift Planning, Family Law, Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Evidence, 2004 - Present.

  • Successful Grant Applications:

    • To the Montana Department of Transportation to start DUI Treatment Court for the Montana Seventh Judicial District, 2010.

    • To the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance to start Adult Treatment Court for the Montana Seventh Judicial District, 2008.

    • To the Montana Board of Crime Control to start Youth Treatment Court for the Montana Seventh Judicial District, 2006.

  • Sexual Harassment in the Schools Presentations 1990-2002

  • Sexual Harassment Investigations in numerous Montana Schools, 1990-2002.

  • “Rule 37 Sanctions: Deterrents to Discovery Abuses,” Montana Law Review, Volume 46, No. 1, 1985.

Professional Experience

  • Judicial Member of Montana Team to National Summit on Language, Houston, Texas.

  • Presenter, Courtroom Practice, Billings, Montana, 2012.

  • Presenter, What Judges Want You to Know About Family Court, Billings, Montana, 2009.

Teaching Experience

  • Street Law, Sidney High School, Sidney, Montana 2012-present.

  • Piano Lessons 1990-present.

Professional Development

  • National Association of Drug Court Professionals Annual Conference, 2007-present.

  • National Judicial College, Reno, Nevada Spring 2003.

Affiliations/Memberships

  • Montana Justice Foundation, Ex-Officio Member.

  • Montana Judge’s Association, President, 2013.

  • Montana Judge’s Association, Member, 2003-present.

  • American Judicature Society, 2006-present.

  • National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2006-present.

  • Association of Family and Conciliation, 2006-present.

  • Montana State Bar, 1985-present.

  • Montana Bar Association, 1985-present.

  • American Bar Association, 1992-present.

  • North Dakota State Bar, 1996-present.

Education

  • J.D., University of Montana, June 1985.

  • B.A. Philosophy and Political Science, High Honors, University of Montana, June 1982.

  • H.S. Culbertson, Montana, Valedictorian, May 1978.