Helland and Laird vie for 17th District Court Judgeship

On Tuesday, November 6, Montana's General Election will be held in which Judge Yvonne Laird and Glasgow Attorney Peter Helland will be on the ballot for the position of Montana District 17 Court Judge.

This race is non-partisan and in the primary election last June, Laird received 2,570 votes and Helland 2,505 votes, according to the Glasgow Courier. Both candidates were in the primary election, reasonably unnecessary as both Laird and Helland will be on the ballot for November's general election, according to Valley County Clerk and Recorder Lynn Nyquist.

What follows are the same four questions asked of the two candidates, answered in their own words, edited only for typos and style, and listed alphabetically by last name.

NAME: Peter Helland

Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Glasgow and will turn 53 in October. My wife Allison and I have been married for 32 years and have three daughters: Abigail age 23, Lily age 21, and Olivia age 12. After graduating law school in 1993, we moved to Billings where I worked as a law clerk for a federal judge for two years and then practiced law at a Billings law firm for six years. In the fall of 2001, I returned home to Glasgow where I practice law at Helland Law Firm, pllc, with two other lawyers. My legal practice focuses on Litigating legal cases in district court.

What is your motivation for running for office?

Serving the public is my primary motivation for running for judge. As a public servant, a district court judge is responsible for ensuring access to the legal system and for providing due process to the people in Blaine, Phillips and Valley Counties. Like any branch of government, a good court system needs qualified people to serve the public. In over 23 years of practicing law in Montana, I have appeared in nearly every type of legal case which can be brought before a district court judge, including family law, criminal law, personal injury, and other civil matters. As your district court judge, I will use this experience to administer justice equally and promptly.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

One significant concern is substance use and abuse because it is so pervasive. For example, a lot of crimes happen while a person is under the influence of some kind of substance. Substance use and abuse are also often present in the abuse and neglect of children cases, as well as divorce cases. Treating the underlying substance abuse problem is often a much less expensive option for preventing someone from repeating the same behavior which will cause future involvement in the legal system. If elected, I intend to focus on treatment courts to address these underlying substance use and abuse issues. By doing so, we can decrease the likelihood that affected will continue straining the legal system and increase the likelihood of a person becoming a positive member of society.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

There is an old saying that "good judgment comes from wisdom; wisdom comes from experience." My 23 years of legal experience has provided me the opportunity to work on almost every type of legal case which could be litigated before a district court judge. During my time practicing law, I witnessed first-hand the effect our legal system has on people involved in the legal system, whether it be as a party or the loved-one of a party to a legal case. Awareness of the emotional cost of litigating a legal case will motivate me to ensure justice is administered expeditiously. Additionally, because of my experience, other lawyers often hire me to mediate their legal cases. As a mediator, I act as a neutral third-party working with both sides to negotiate a mutually-agreed-to settlement of their legal dispute. If fortunate to be elected district court judge, I will use my experience for the benefit of the public to fairly and efficiently administering justice to the people of Blaine, Phillips and Valley Counties.

NAME: Yvonne Laird

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Havre and raised on a working farm/ranch north of Gildford in Hill County. Following high school, I attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. After college, I worked in the Chicagoland area for approximately three years, before returning to Montana and attending the University of Montana, School of Law. In December 1996 I secured employment in Chinook, Mont. The next school year, my husband, Myles, obtained a teaching position in Harlem, Mont. In 2006, Myles and I were joined by our daughter Clara. As a family, we are committed to improving our local communities and our State by involvement in community activities; including youth sports programs, and 4-H.

Professionally, I have dedicated my career to public service and serving persons who may not have access or may only have limited access to professional legal service. To this end, I have served as Deputy Blaine County Attorney, Blaine County Attorney, Fort Belknap Tribal Prosecutor and Special Assistant United States Attorney, prosecuting cases in State, Tribal and Federal Court. Additionally, I have served as a staff attorney for the Montana Legal Services Association providing civil legal services to low-income persons, with an emphasis on family law cases and some related consumer law cases.

What is your motivation for running for office?

I believe the constituents of the 17th Judicial District deserve and are entitled to a fair, impartial and unbiased District Judge. As the third branch of government, the judicial branch is a necessary and vital component of our democratic government. Given the diversity of my experience as a practicing attorney coupled with my recent experience as District Judge, I am uniquely qualified to provide the level of judicial services the citizens of Phillips, Blaine, and Valley Counties deserve. Serving as your District Judge for the next six years, allows me the opportunity to continue my service to our Hi-Line communities and our State. As your District Judge, I am committed to providing fair, impartial and unbiased judicial service to the citizens of Valley, Phillips and Blaine Counties.

What issues concern you in the position you are running for?

The issue of greatest concern to the judiciary in the 17th Judicial District, as in the State of Montana, is funding. Not only has the budget of the judicial branch been reduced, many of the service providers relied on by the judiciary have had extensive cuts to their budgets. Some of the affected service providers are mental health care providers, chemical dependency treatment facilities, child and family services, and the department of justice. It is impossible to provide necessary rehabilitative services to persons who need them when the services are simply not available. The loss of available services will require the implementation and development of innovative local solutions; such as peer to peer mentoring and increased utilization of advances in technology.

What skills or attributes make you a good candidate for the position?

My diverse practice background, experience as a District Judge, and commitment to our system of government and justice give me a solid foundation for continuing to serve as your District Judge. The cases that come before the court are important to the parties and deserve the full open-minded attention of the judge; I have the ability to be fair and open-minded and not reach a decision until all the evidence is submitted. I am not intimidated by difficult decisions and am not afraid to rule according to the law, even if it may be an unpopular decision. To do otherwise would be a disservice to the judiciary and the constituents who placed their trust in the court. As I have stated throughout my campaign, I am experienced, honest, and fair and committed to serving the 17th Judicial District.