Supreme Court Administrator history

Emmet's death in 1827, is located in the rotunda of the New York County Courthouse.

In order to simplify proceedings, a new code of procedure, called the Field Code after a leading advocate for reform, David Dudley Field, was introduced in 1848.

Hezekiah L. Hosmer was appointed as the first Chief Justice by President Abraham Lincoln on June 30, 1864.

The first term of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Montana was held in Virginia City on May 17, 1865.

When the Territorial Supreme Court adjourned sine die on October 5, 1889, the Territorial period ended and the modern era of statehood began.

1910 was an “off” year for judicial elections; only the Chief Justice and two District Judges were to be chosen.

The main courthouse at 60 Centre Street (shown above as it appeared years ago) was designed by a distinguished architect, Guy Lowell of Boston, and opened in 1927. (For a history of this courthouse, See: A Brief Architectural/Design History of the New York County Courthouse.)

The adoption of a new judicial article in the 1972 Constitution did not substantially change the traditional structures of the Montana Judiciary.

The 2001 Legislative Session enacted legislation for what was commonly called “state assumption of district courts”. Under this legislation, the state assumed the cost of all district court employees, with the exception of employees in the offices of Clerks of District Court.