James A. Rice
{{Short description|American judge (born 1957)}}
{{other people|James Rice}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Jim Rice
|office = Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
|governor = Judy Martz
|term_start = March 15, 2001
|term_end =
|predecessor = Karla M. Gray
|successor =
|birth_name = James Arthur Rice
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|11|15}}
|birth_place = CFS Ramore, Canada
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|education = Montana State University (BA)
University of Montana (JD)
}}
James Arthur Rice (born November 15, 1957) is an American lawyer who has served as an associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court. Rice was initially appointed by Governor Judy Martz in 2001.{{cite web |title=Justice James A. Rice |url=https://courts.mt.gov/courts/supreme/about/bios/Rice |publisher=Montana Judicial Branch |access-date=14 June 2024}} His current term extends to 2030.
Early life and education
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 from Glasgow in 1975.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Charles S. |title=Justice Rice wants to continue progress on Montana Supreme Court |url=https://missoulian.com/news/local/justice-rice-wants-to-continue-progress-on-montana-supreme-court/article_15498114-4dba-11e4-8d40-571e769874c9.html |publisher=The Missoulian |access-date=15 June 2024 |date=October 7, 2014}} He obtained his pilot's license at 17, and worked in aviation-related jobs while attending Montana State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1979, and then earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Montana School of Law in 1982.
Career
Rice began his career as a public defender in Lewis and Clark County, Montana for four years. He became a partner in the law firm of Jackson & Rice in Helena, Montana, in 1985.
He was elected as a Republican to three terms in the Montana House of Representatives, serving from 1989 to 1994.{{cite web |title=Biographies and Histories of Montana’s Justices, Judges, and Courts |url=https://courts.mt.gov/external/library/docs/judgesbio2.pdf |publisher=State Law Library of Montana |access-date=15 June 2024}} He was House Majority Whip in the 1993 session.
{{cite web |last1=Juhlin |first1=Ellis |title=Longtime Justice Jim Rice faces attorney Bill D'Alton for seat on Montana Supreme Court |url=https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2022-10-24/jim-rice-vs-bill-dalton-supreme-court |publisher=Yellowstone Public Radio |access-date=15 June 2024 |date=October 24, 2022}} Rice's campaigns for Supreme Court referenced his time as a legislator. In the 2013 elections he stated: " I have sensitivity to the separation of powers and deference to the appropriate branches of government. I want to ensure that the court doesn't legislate from the bench and stays within our appropriate role."{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Charles S. |title=Rice to seek re-election to Supreme Court |url=https://helenair.com/article_66cf3470-50e5-11e3-9c77-001a4bcf887a.html |publisher=Independent Record |access-date=14 June 2024 |date=November 19, 2013}}
After time in the legislature, he was appointed to chair the Board of Personnel Appeals by Governor Marc Racicot. In 2000, Rice ran for Montana Attorney General, losing to Mike McGrath.
On March 15, 2001, he was sworn in as an associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court after appointment by Governor Judy Martz.{{Cite news|title=Rice gets high court seat|last=Billings|first=Erin P.|date=February 23, 2001|work=Independent Record}} Rice filled the seat vacated by Karla M. Gray when she was elected Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court. In 2002, Rice was unopposed in election to the remainder of the judicial term to which he was appointed. In 2006, he also won an unopposed retention vote. In 2014, he defeated W. David Herbert to win a third term.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/wheat-rice-win-re-election-to-montana-supreme-court/article_0b6449cc-64b2-11e4-80a4-6be7969980c7.html|title=Wheat, Rice win re-election to Montana Supreme Court|date=4 November 2014 }} Then in 2022 he defeated Bill D'Alton.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/58967/jim-rice Jim Rice's Biography at votesmart.org]
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{{s-bef|before=Karla M. Gray}}
{{s-ttl|title=Justice of the Montana Supreme Court|years=2001–present}}
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{{Current Montana statewide political officials}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rice, James A.}}
Category:Justices of the Montana Supreme Court
Category:Members of the Montana House of Representatives
Category:Montana State University alumni
Category:University of Montana alumni