Blaine County Justice of the Peace Judge Perry Miller this morning swore local attorney Dan Boucher in as the new state District Court judge based out of Havre.

Boucher, a 26-year private Havre attorney, regional deputy public defender based out of Havre and a former deputy Hill County attorney, takes the place of Judge David Rice.

Rice retired effective Nov. 30 after spending seven years as the judge in Montana’s Judicial District 12 in Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

Boucher and Havre attorney Brian Lilletvedt were the only candidates to apply to the state judicial nomination commission for the position. 

Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Boucher as the judge Nov. 24. He will serve until the next scheduled election in 2012, at which time he would have to run to keep the position.

Boucher, a graduate of Hellgate High School in Missoula, received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Montana in Missoula in 1980. After receiving his law degree from UM in 1984, he joined the Frank Altman law firm in Havre that year.

In addition to his duties as an attorney and raising his family in Havre, Boucher has been extremely active in the field of wrestling.

Boucher is a competitive wrestling coach, is certified as an NCAA wrestling official, is a member of the Montana Officials Association and is president of the Havre Wrestling Officials Association.