No, a law degree is not required. In the State of Montana, to be elected as a Justice of the Peace, the law requires you to be a resident of the county for at least one year. Additionally, to be a substitute or fill-in Justice of the Peace, you must be a current or former judge, a current or former attorney, current court personnel, or a former law enforcement officer. A substitute must also be of good moral character and have community support, a sense of community standards, and a basic knowledge of court procedure. See Mont. Code Ann. Section 3-10-231
Many nearby counties currently have a non-attorney as their Justice of the Peace, including Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders Counties. Additionally, former Columbia Falls City Court Judge Susan "Tina" Gordon served for 30 years without being an attorney. When the Montana Constitution was ratified in 1889, citizenship was the principal qualification. Further, in 2003 when the Montana Legislature established Justice Courts as "courts of record", the requirement that a Justice of the Peace be an attorney was intentionally removed when amended in the committee process.
My hard work and dedication to the legal field will assist in my ability to work tirelessly to excel in this position. I strive to learn as much as possible to assist me in my daily tasks and will continue to do so in my role as Justice of the Peace. Outside of courtroom hours, I will regularly utilize my time to review Supreme Court decisions, case law, and higher court rulings, to ensure I am as current and effective as possible.
In addition to the knowledge I will bring to the role, every Justice of the Peace in the State of Montana is required to attend orientation training as well as two annual training sessions supervised by the Supreme Court. See Mont. Code Ann. Section 3-10-203
Courts of Limited Jurisdiction, like Flathead County Justice Court, are the courts in which most Montanans seeking justice will encounter the justice system. They are frequently dubbed, "courts of common sense." Treating people with respect, dignity, and understanding will be a large part of this role, and is something that I utilize regularly.
People are human and everyone makes mistakes, even seasoned Judges. The goal is to learn as much as possible, and make thoughtful, well-reasoned decisions, to avoid mistakes or incorrect rulings, however there are processes, including appeals, which exist because no Judge is expected to be correct all the time.