Managhan files for district judge

The race for Montana’s 19th Judicial District Court is heating up, as Kalispell-based public defender William Managhan has thrown his hat into the ring to replace retiring Judge James Wheelis.

Managhan said his goal is to help people, something he does every day in his role with the Office of the State Public Defender, but something he could do more of as a sitting judge.

“I really like my current job because I get to help a lot of people,” he said. “I get to help people who desperately need help. As a judge I can help more people, and I can do it without taking a side other than being on the side of justice.”

Managhan, who was born in St. Ignatius and raised in Missoula, said he took a circuitous route to the practice of law, working as a logger with his grandfather from the age of 12, then taking a job as a welder after high school.

“It taught me a lot about people and about the value of hard work,” he said.

Managhan earned his undergraduate degree and law degree at the University of Montana. During his third year of law school he tried misdemeanor criminal cases in justice court in Missoula. After law school he also clerked for two Montana Supreme Court Justices, during which time he helped draft more than 40 legal opinions.

Managhan practiced with a civil and family law firm in Kalispell before deciding, in 2003, to open his own civil litigation firm. He started taking contract cases for the public defender’s office several years ago, and ultimately decided to work there full-time. 

He practices primarily in Lincoln County, handling not just felony cases in district court, but also misdemeanors in justice jourt, juvenile cases, involuntary commitments, guardianship and dependency/neglect cases. He said he’s handled just about every type of case one could expect a judge to hear and has appeared in every legal jurisdiction in Montana except Water Court. He said he has also tried several cases before the Montana Supreme Court, as well as cases in federal court and federal bankruptcy court.

“Being a judge is a whole lot of work,” he said. “It’s a lot of responsibility, and it can be intimidating, but I truly do have a background in almost everything a judge deals with.”

Philosophically, Managhan said he likes the fact that Montana’s judicial elections are non-partisan. Judges, he said, should not use their benches to promote politics or policy.

“You’re not supposed to have an agenda, other than to do what’s right,” he said.

Doing what’s right is how he defines his current role as a public defender. The job, he said, is to ensure that all people are treated equally under the law.

“My job isn’t to get people off,” he said. “It’s to advise them through some very difficult decisions and to protect their consitutional rights.”

In addition to his work in law, Managhan said he likes to give his time and experience to his community by volunteering in various capacities. While in Missoula he volunteered for several years as a firefighter and has also volunteered as a coach for football, track and basketball.

Managhan said both his professional and volunteer work are part of his passion to help people and build stronger communities, something he hopes to continue as District Court Judge.

As of Monday morning, two candidates have filed for the judge’s office, Managhan and Missoula attorney Matt Cuffe.

The primary election is scheduled for June 7, 2016, should enough candidates file for the office. If a primary is necessary the top two vote recipients will square off in the general election, scheduled for Nov. 8, 2016.