The Rules of Practice, Forms and Orders for the Montana Fourth Judicial District Court for Missoula and Mineral Counties.
Department 1
Hon. Leslie Halligan
Gov. Steve Bullock appointed Hon. Leslie Halligan as a new interim judge to the Fourth Judicial District Court to replace Judge Ed McLean, who retired on April 30.
Halligan serves as the new judge that will preside over cases in Missoula and Mineral counties.
Since 2012, Halligan has been one of the standing masters of district court, presiding over cases referred to her by McLean and district court judge Karen Townsend that related to domestic relations, family law and parenting plans, as well as some of those involving intervention in neglect and abuse of children.
Department 2
Hon. Tara J. Elliott
Tyler’s first job was working at a Taco Bell when he was fifteen years old. He took that work ethic with him to college, attending Georgetown University. During college he worked in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Upon graduation, Tyler worked on the presidential campaign for Senator John Edwards, forging relationships that continue to serve the people of Missoula County.
Prior to attending law school at the University of Montana, Tyler spent a short stint as a substitute teacher, teaching high school and middle school. During law school he focused his studies primarily on taxation and business law. He spent the next seven years representing small businesses and individuals with tax, business and real estate matters. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Homeword, a Missoula based nonprofit organization focusing on affordable housing.
Tyler has a commitment to helping Missoulians navigate the complex world of property taxes and real estate transactions. As a firm believer in quality customer service, he has worked tirelessly to improve Missoula County’s Motor Vehicle Division, decreasing wait times and consistently receiving positive customer reviews. As a leader on legislative issues, Tyler has helped develop innovative solutions to the problems that have nagged Montana’s Clerks and Treasurers for decades.
Tyler and his wife Katie live with their two children in central Missoula. When they’re not chasing kids around the house, they enjoy fly-fishing and cheering on the Montana Grizzlies. With any luck, their kids will enjoy those things too. See Less...
District Judge Tara J. Elliott was elected to the Fourth Judicial District, Department 2, in November of 2024. Prior to assuming the bench, Judge Elliott spent 16 years at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana prosecuting primarily narcotics and violent crime cases. She’s argued cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and has tried cases in every Federal Courthouse in the State of Montana.
Judge Elliott graduated law school in 2000 from Hofstra University School of Law and upon graduation worked at the New York County District Attorney’s Office where she spent eight years as an Assistant District Attorney prior to moving to Montana. She prosecuted a wide array of cases involving domestic violence, sex trafficking, narcotics, and homicides.
Department 3
Hon. John W. Larson
District Judge John W. Larson has served on the Montana state trial bench since 1993. He is the longest serving trial judge in Montana’s District Courts.
He has presided over hundreds of civil and criminal jury trials. In 1996 he established Montana’s first drug treatment court. This Court has served as a model for other similar courts around the country. He currently is a member of the Montana Supreme Court Drug Court Advisory Committee.
Judge Larson graduated in 1972 from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota. He graduated with distinction from the University of Pudget Sound (now Seattle University) School of Law. Following graduation, Judge Larson was a Law Clerk to the Montana Supreme Court. He then practiced law for 17 years prior to his judicial service. He was the last part-time Federal Magistrate Judge in Missoula serving from 1989-1992.
Judge Larson has been an active member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), serving two terms on its National Board of Trustees. He has also served as President of the Montana Judge’s Association. Judge Larson has served on the Board of Directors of the Montana Legal Services since 2000.
Judge Larson received national recognition for Judge of the Year for the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program.
Department 4
Hon. Jason Marks
Gov. Steven Bullock appointed Hon. Jason Marks as judge to the Fourth Judicial District, Department 4, to replace Judge Karen S. Townsend who retired Aug. 2019. In addition to presiding over regular cases in Missoula and Mineral Counties, Judge Marks also presides over the Veteran’s Treatment Court and Co-Occurring Treatment in Missoula County.
Judge Marks was born and raised in Missoula. He received his J.D. from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA in 2005. After returning to Missoula he served in both the Public Defender’s Office and the Missoula County Attorney’s Office. He was recognized as the Public Servant of the Year in 2009 by the Missoula Family Violence Counsel for his work on domestic violence cases. He was promoted in 2012 to supervise the prosecution of sexual assault and domestic violence cases in the Missoula County Attorney’s Office. In 2015 he was appointed to Chief Deputy County Attorney where he supervised both the criminal and civil divisions of the Missoula County Attorney’s Office until he was appointed to the bench by Gov. Bullock.
On a more personal level, Judge Marks is married and has three children that he feels lucky to be able to raise in the community where he grew up. He is an active member of the Missoula Kiwanis organization and has been a regular guest lecturer at the University of Montana Law School.
Department 5
Hon. Shane A Vannatta
Gov. Steve Bullock appointed the Hon. Shane A. Vannatta as district court judge to the newly-created Department 5 of the Fourth Judicial District in February 2019. Judge Vannatta was unanimously confirmed by the Montana State Senate on March 8, 2019. Judge Vannatta was retained for a 6-year term in 2020.
Prior to assuming the bench, Judge Vannatta practiced law for 25+ years in a firm setting. His legal practice focused principally in business law, and included advice for copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, employment, business acquisitions, real property, and contract drafting. He maintained both a transactional and litigation practice.
Judge Vannatta graduated in 1993 from The University of Montana Law School (J.D. with Honors). He served as President of the State Bar of Montana (September 2011-2012), and as the ABA Delegate from the State Bar of Montana for over 6 years, serving on various ABA committees and commissions.
As a private practitioner, Judge Vannatta was recognized on numerous peer-reviewed lists, including Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Best Lawyers in America®, and Martindale-Hubbell. He was recognized in 2019 & 2016 as “Lawyer of the Year” for work in Corporate Law in Missoula, MT, and in 2014 as “Lawyer of the Year” for work in Litigation - Labor & Employment in Missoula, MT.
Standing Master
Amy Rubin
Amy Rubin was recently appointed Standing Master for the 4th Judicial District Court. She will work primarily with family law cases, for Judge Townsend and Judge Halligan. Prior to this appointment, Amy was a partner in a private law firm, and worked with non-profit agencies providing legal representation under Violence Against Women Act grants through the US Department of Justice. She has received the Crime Victim Advocate of the Year award, as well as the Missoula Family Violence Council Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award. Amy received her undergraduate degree from Colorado College and is a 1989 graduate of the University of Montana School of Law. In her spare time she enjoys horses, and playing ice hockey with her family. She is active in a number of community organizations.
Standing Master
Gail Bourguignon
Gail Bourguignon was appointed Standing Master in the 4th Judicial District Court in February 2021. She presides over cases referred to her by Departments 2, 3 and 5 in Missoula County, focusing primarily on family law issues, including domestic relations, parenting plans, mediations, and child welfare. She also presides as needed over Treatment Court proceedings.
Throughout her career, Standing Master Bourguignon has served as a child and family advocate in various capacities. This included clinical work with adolescents in wilderness and residential care, supervisory support for CASA volunteers, service as Guardian ad Litem in parenting plan and dissolution cases, La Leche League leader, volunteer parenting plan mediator and current board member at the Community Dispute Resolution Center and, most recently, representing children and parents at the Office of Public Defender Conflict Division in Missoula.
Raised in Northern Michigan, Gail and her husband chose to make their home and raise their children in Missoula. Gail enjoys hiking, curling, making piñatas and finding adventure with her family.
Education:
Kalamazoo College, B.A. Psychology
University of Aberdeen, Exchange Student
Northern Arizona University, M.A. Community Counseling
Michigan State University College of Law, J.D.
Chance at Childhood, Law and Social Work Child Advocacy Certificate Program
