Candidate promises impartiality

Beth Baker won't talk about her personal beliefs in her campaign for the Montana Supreme Court.

Talking about how she feels about issues that might come before the court would help undermine public confidence in the court, she said. And her chief goal on the state's highest court would be to help improve public confidence in the court.

She promises to take each case and apply the law and make an impartial decision, regardless of her personal beliefs.

"The court has to take the lead role in preserving support for our legal system," she said.

"We have to base our opinions on fact and the law," she said.

Baker was in Havre over the weekend, campaigning in her contest again Nels Swandal in the Nov. 2 election. She attended several Havre Festival Days activities and met with the Havre Daily News editorial board.

The Helena lawyer is seeking a vacant seat on the state's highest court after serving 10 years as a private practice attorney in the state's capital.

Before that, she served for 12 years under two Montana attorneys general — Republican Marc Racicot and Democrat Joe Mazurek. She is proud that both have endorsed her candidacy. A host of former and present state legislators have also backed her candidacy, including both Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives.

She discussed a variety of issues on Friday:

She said she has enjoyed campaigning throughout the state and opposes efforts to make the post appointive.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor proposed during a recent visit to the state that judges be appointed based on merit.

Baker said she was concerned that in some states massive amounts of money has been spent by special interest groups in support of judicial candidates, who, if elected, will rule on cases involving campaign donors.

"I don't think that will happen in Montana," she said.

In Montana, she said, strict campaign finance laws prohibit people from making contributions larger than $300.

She said more than 3,000 people have donated to her campaign.

"The average has been about $100," she said.

She said she opposed suggestions by her opponent that deliberations among the court's seven justices be held in public.

That would make it easier for improper influences to play a role in the decision. Often preliminary votes are taken at the very beginning of the deliberations, she said.

After discussion takes place, justices frequently change their minds, she said.

She said her legal experience qualifies her for the position. She is the vice president of the Montana Legal Services Association.

She is proud of her service to the poor, and her list of endorsements on her campaign literature includes comments from a pro bono client.

A native of Washington, she spent summers in Montana. After graduating from the University of Washington, she received her law degree from the University of Montana.