Boucher set to start as district judge next week

Dan Boucher this morning thanked the governor of Montana for his appointment as district judge and said he is excited to start Wednesday in state Judicial District 12, Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

"I am humbled by this honor and looking forward to this very much," Boucher said. "There are some big shoes to fill — Judge (Chan) Ettien, Judge (John) Warner, Judge (David) Rice — and I'm excited to begin this particular journey with such skilled jurists as role models.

"It is my intention to now bring to the bench the same kind of fair, impartial and compassionate attitude that I have tried to bring to my practice," Boucher added.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Boucher Wednesday, to take the place of Rice, who was appointed by Gov. Judy Martz in 2003. In August, Rice announced his retirement effective Tuesday.

Schweitzer appointed Boucher over his fellow candidate, Havre attorney Brian Lilletvedt. Boucher and Lilletvedt were the only candidates who applied for the position.

Lilletvedt said this morning that he called Boucher Wednesday to congratulate him on the selection.

"I think he will do a great job," Lilletvedt said, adding that he will continue his own private practice as a partner in the firm Bosch, Kuhr, Dugdale, Martin and Kaze.

"I still have a job," he said jokingly. "I will be back gearing up."

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.

Boucher has been practicing as the sole practitioner in Altman and Boucher in Havre, and serving as regional public defender in Havre. He previously served as a part-time deputy Hill County attorney.

He is admitted to practice law in the Montana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for Montana, Rocky Boy Tribal Court and Fort Belknap Tribal Court.

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

Boucher thanked the people who offered their support for his application, whether they made suggestions, wrote a public comment to the Judicial Nomination Commission, called members of the commission or stopped to talk to him on the street.

"I know Judge Rice and his staff leave a well-organized and smoothly run office for me to step into," Boucher said. "My thanks to him for his professionalism, compassion, knowledge and experience, all of which he has shared openly. As he retires from the bench, we will miss him greatly.

"Now is my opportunity to serve the people with my heart and experience," Boucher added.

Dan Boucher this morning thanked the governor of Montana for his appointment as district judge and said he is excited to start Wednesday in state Judicial District 12, Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

"I am humbled by this honor and looking forward to this very much," Boucher said. "There are some big shoes to fill — Judge (Chan) Ettien, Judge (John) Warner, Judge (David) Rice — and I'm excited to begin this particular journey with such skilled jurists as role models.

"It is my intention to now bring to the bench the same kind of fair, impartial and compassionate attitude that I have tried to bring to my practice," Boucher added.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Boucher Wednesday, to take the place of Rice, who was appointed by Gov. Judy Martz in 2003. In August, Rice announced his retirement effective Tuesday.

Schweitzer appointed Boucher over his fellow candidate, Havre attorney Brian Lilletvedt. Boucher and Lilletvedt were the only candidates who applied for the position.

Lilletvedt said this morning that he called Boucher Wednesday to congratulate him on the selection.

"I think he will do a great job," Lilletvedt said, adding that he will continue his own private practice as a partner in the firm Bosch, Kuhr, Dugdale, Martin and Kaze.

"I still have a job," he said jokingly. "I will be back gearing up."

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.

Boucher has been practicing as the sole practitioner in Altman and Boucher in Havre, and serving as regional public defender in Havre. He previously served as a part-time deputy Hill County attorney.

He is admitted to practice law in the Montana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for Montana, Rocky Boy Tribal Court and Fort Belknap Tribal Court.

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

Boucher thanked the people who offered their support for his application, whether they made suggestions, wrote a public comment to the Judicial Nomination Commission, called members of the commission or stopped to talk to him on the street.

"I know Judge Rice and his staff leave a well-organized and smoothly run office for me to step into," Boucher said. "My thanks to him for his professionalism, compassion, knowledge and experience, all of which he has shared openly. As he retires from the bench, we will miss him greatly.

"Now is my opportunity to serve the people with my heart and experience," Boucher added.

Dan Boucher this morning thanked the governor of Montana for his appointment as district judge and said he is excited to start Wednesday in state Judicial District 12, Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

"I am humbled by this honor and looking forward to this very much," Boucher said. "There are some big shoes to fill — Judge (Chan) Ettien, Judge (John) Warner, Judge (David) Rice — and I'm excited to begin this particular journey with such skilled jurists as role models.

"It is my intention to now bring to the bench the same kind of fair, impartial and compassionate attitude that I have tried to bring to my practice," Boucher added.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Boucher Wednesday, to take the place of Rice, who was appointed by Gov. Judy Martz in 2003. In August, Rice announced his retirement effective Tuesday.

Schweitzer appointed Boucher over his fellow candidate, Havre attorney Brian Lilletvedt. Boucher and Lilletvedt were the only candidates who applied for the position.

Lilletvedt said this morning that he called Boucher Wednesday to congratulate him on the selection.

"I think he will do a great job," Lilletvedt said, adding that he will continue his own private practice as a partner in the firm Bosch, Kuhr, Dugdale, Martin and Kaze.

"I still have a job," he said jokingly. "I will be back gearing up."

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.

Boucher has been practicing as the sole practitioner in Altman and Boucher in Havre, and serving as regional public defender in Havre. He previously served as a part-time deputy Hill County attorney.

He is admitted to practice law in the Montana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for Montana, Rocky Boy Tribal Court and Fort Belknap Tribal Court.

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

Boucher thanked the people who offered their support for his application, whether they made suggestions, wrote a public comment to the Judicial Nomination Commission, called members of the commission or stopped to talk to him on the street.

"I know Judge Rice and his staff leave a well-organized and smoothly run office for me to step into," Boucher said. "My thanks to him for his professionalism, compassion, knowledge and experience, all of which he has shared openly. As he retires from the bench, we will miss him greatly.

"Now is my opportunity to serve the people with my heart and experience," Boucher added.

Dan Boucher this morning thanked the governor of Montana for his appointment as district judge and said he is excited to start Wednesday in state Judicial District 12, Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

"I am humbled by this honor and looking forward to this very much," Boucher said. "There are some big shoes to fill — Judge (Chan) Ettien, Judge (John) Warner, Judge (David) Rice — and I'm excited to begin this particular journey with such skilled jurists as role models.

"It is my intention to now bring to the bench the same kind of fair, impartial and compassionate attitude that I have tried to bring to my practice," Boucher added.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Boucher Wednesday, to take the place of Rice, who was appointed by Gov. Judy Martz in 2003. In August, Rice announced his retirement effective Tuesday.

Schweitzer appointed Boucher over his fellow candidate, Havre attorney Brian Lilletvedt. Boucher and Lilletvedt were the only candidates who applied for the position.

Lilletvedt said this morning that he called Boucher Wednesday to congratulate him on the selection.

"I think he will do a great job," Lilletvedt said, adding that he will continue his own private practice as a partner in the firm Bosch, Kuhr, Dugdale, Martin and Kaze.

"I still have a job," he said jokingly. "I will be back gearing up."

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.

Boucher has been practicing as the sole practitioner in Altman and Boucher in Havre, and serving as regional public defender in Havre. He previously served as a part-time deputy Hill County attorney.

He is admitted to practice law in the Montana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for Montana, Rocky Boy Tribal Court and Fort Belknap Tribal Court.

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

Boucher thanked the people who offered their support for his application, whether they made suggestions, wrote a public comment to the Judicial Nomination Commission, called members of the commission or stopped to talk to him on the street.

"I know Judge Rice and his staff leave a well-organized and smoothly run office for me to step into," Boucher said. "My thanks to him for his professionalism, compassion, knowledge and experience, all of which he has shared openly. As he retires from the bench, we will miss him greatly.

"Now is my opportunity to serve the people with my heart and experience," Boucher added.

Dan Boucher this morning thanked the governor of Montana for his appointment as district judge and said he is excited to start Wednesday in state Judicial District 12, Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

"I am humbled by this honor and looking forward to this very much," Boucher said. "There are some big shoes to fill — Judge (Chan) Ettien, Judge (John) Warner, Judge (David) Rice — and I'm excited to begin this particular journey with such skilled jurists as role models.

"It is my intention to now bring to the bench the same kind of fair, impartial and compassionate attitude that I have tried to bring to my practice," Boucher added.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Boucher Wednesday, to take the place of Rice, who was appointed by Gov. Judy Martz in 2003. In August, Rice announced his retirement effective Tuesday.

Schweitzer appointed Boucher over his fellow candidate, Havre attorney Brian Lilletvedt. Boucher and Lilletvedt were the only candidates who applied for the position.

Lilletvedt said this morning that he called Boucher Wednesday to congratulate him on the selection.

"I think he will do a great job," Lilletvedt said, adding that he will continue his own private practice as a partner in the firm Bosch, Kuhr, Dugdale, Martin and Kaze.

"I still have a job," he said jokingly. "I will be back gearing up."

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.

Boucher has been practicing as the sole practitioner in Altman and Boucher in Havre, and serving as regional public defender in Havre. He previously served as a part-time deputy Hill County attorney.

He is admitted to practice law in the Montana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for Montana, Rocky Boy Tribal Court and Fort Belknap Tribal Court.

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

Boucher thanked the people who offered their support for his application, whether they made suggestions, wrote a public comment to the Judicial Nomination Commission, called members of the commission or stopped to talk to him on the street.

"I know Judge Rice and his staff leave a well-organized and smoothly run office for me to step into," Boucher said. "My thanks to him for his professionalism, compassion, knowledge and experience, all of which he has shared openly. As he retires from the bench, we will miss him greatly.

"Now is my opportunity to serve the people with my heart and experience," Boucher added.

Dan Boucher this morning thanked the governor of Montana for his appointment as district judge and said he is excited to start Wednesday in state Judicial District 12, Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

"I am humbled by this honor and looking forward to this very much," Boucher said. "There are some big shoes to fill — Judge (Chan) Ettien, Judge (John) Warner, Judge (David) Rice — and I'm excited to begin this particular journey with such skilled jurists as role models.

"It is my intention to now bring to the bench the same kind of fair, impartial and compassionate attitude that I have tried to bring to my practice," Boucher added.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Boucher Wednesday, to take the place of Rice, who was appointed by Gov. Judy Martz in 2003. In August, Rice announced his retirement effective Tuesday.

Schweitzer appointed Boucher over his fellow candidate, Havre attorney Brian Lilletvedt. Boucher and Lilletvedt were the only candidates who applied for the position.

Lilletvedt said this morning that he called Boucher Wednesday to congratulate him on the selection.

"I think he will do a great job," Lilletvedt said, adding that he will continue his own private practice as a partner in the firm Bosch, Kuhr, Dugdale, Martin and Kaze.

"I still have a job," he said jokingly. "I will be back gearing up."

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.

Boucher has been practicing as the sole practitioner in Altman and Boucher in Havre, and serving as regional public defender in Havre. He previously served as a part-time deputy Hill County attorney.

He is admitted to practice law in the Montana Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for Montana, Rocky Boy Tribal Court and Fort Belknap Tribal Court.

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

Boucher thanked the people who offered their support for his application, whether they made suggestions, wrote a public comment to the Judicial Nomination Commission, called members of the commission or stopped to talk to him on the street.

"I know Judge Rice and his staff leave a well-organized and smoothly run office for me to step into," Boucher said. "My thanks to him for his professionalism, compassion, knowledge and experience, all of which he has shared openly. As he retires from the bench, we will miss him greatly.

"Now is my opportunity to serve the people with my heart and experience," Boucher added.