Panel Taking Applications for Supreme Court

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A panel that will recommend a replacement for former Montana Supreme Court Justice Brian Morris is taking applications from attorneys.

The seven-member Judicial Nomination Commission said Monday that it will announce the names of the candidates after the application period ends Feb. 12.

The application period will be followed by a 30-day public comment period on the applicants, after which the commission has a month to forward its recommendations to Gov. Steve Bullock.

Morris and former state District Judge Susan Watters resigned their positions last month to become U.S. District judges in Great Falls and Billings.

The nomination commission previously announced it was accepting applications to replace Watters in the busy state court in Billings.