District Court Judge Shane Vannatta to speak

Join us in person or via zoom to hear District Court Judge Shane A. Vannatta share about the court system in Montana.

On February 5, 2019, then Governor Steve Bullock appointed Shane as district court judge to the newly-created Department 5 of the Fourth Judicial District. Shane took the oath of office on February 22, 2019, and was unanimously confirmed by the Montana State Senate on March 8, 2019. Shane won the election.  

Prior to assuming the bench, Shane practiced law for more than 25 years with the law firm of Worden Thane P.C. His legal practice focused principally in business law, and included advice for copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, employment, business acquisitions, real property, and contract drafting. Shane maintained both a transactional and litigation practice.

Shane graduated in 1993 from The University of Montana Law School, earning his J.D. with Honors. He served as president of the State Bar of Montana September 2011-2012, and currently serves as the ABA Delegate for the State of Montana, and on various ABA committees and commissions.

As a private practitioner, Shane was recognized on numerous peer-reviewed lists, including Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Best Lawyers in America®, and Martindale-Hubbell. He was recognized in 2019 and 2016 as “Lawyer of the Year” for work in corporate law in Missoula, and in 2014 as “Lawyer of the Year” for work in litigation  - labor and employment in Missoula.