James A. Rice
Encyclopedia
James A. Rice is an American
attorney, judge, and politician who is one of the five Associate Justices currently on the Montana Supreme Court
. Rice won an unopposed retention vote in 2006; his current term will expire in 2014.
Rice was born to parents in the United States Military who were stationed at Ramore Air Force Base, near Kirkland Lake, Ontario
, Canada
. Rice grew up in eastern Montana, and graduated in 1975. He obtained his pilot's license at 17, and worked in aviation-related jobs while attending Montana State University
. He graduated with a B.A. in political science in 1979, and then earned a J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 1982. Rice subsequently worked as a public defender
in Lewis and Clark County for four years.
He was elected to three terms in the Montana House of Representatives
, and served as House Majority Whip
in the 1993 session. He became a partner in the law firm
of Jackson & Rice in Helena, Montana
, in 1985. On March 15, 2001, he was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court after appointment by Governor Judy Martz
. In 2002, he won election to the remainder of the judicial term to which he was appointed. In 2006, he won an unopposed retention vote.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney, judge, and politician who is one of the five Associate Justices currently on the Montana Supreme Court
Montana Supreme Court
The Montana Supreme Court is the highest court of the Montana state court system in the U.S. state of Montana. It is established and its powers defined by Article VII of the 1972 Montana Constitution...
. Rice won an unopposed retention vote in 2006; his current term will expire in 2014.
Rice was born to parents in the United States Military who were stationed at Ramore Air Force Base, near Kirkland Lake, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Rice grew up in eastern Montana, and graduated in 1975. He obtained his pilot's license at 17, and worked in aviation-related jobs while attending Montana State University
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
. He graduated with a B.A. in political science in 1979, and then earned a J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 1982. Rice subsequently worked as a public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
in Lewis and Clark County for four years.
He was elected to three terms in the Montana House of Representatives
Montana House of Representatives
The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years.-Composition of the House:...
, and served as House Majority Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in the 1993 session. He became a partner in the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Jackson & Rice in Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
, in 1985. On March 15, 2001, he was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court after appointment by Governor Judy Martz
Judy Martz
Judy Martz was the 22nd Governor of Montana, having served a single term from January 2, 2001, to January 3, 2005. Earlier, she was the Lieutenant Governor under Marc Racicot from 1997-2001...
. In 2002, he won election to the remainder of the judicial term to which he was appointed. In 2006, he won an unopposed retention vote.