Rick West
MT · Justice of the Peace, Gallatin County
Rick West has been a Gallatin County Justice of the Peace since 2011 and previously worked as a county sheriff's deputy and as an investigator for public defenders. He has backed wider use of alternative sentencing, such as probation and work programs, for misdemeanors.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 4 records
Released or lowered bail for three of five people arrested over a weekend, after the state's chief justice asked judges to free inmates during COVID-19.
March 23, 2020
Source: bozemandailychronicle.com
Kept his Justice of the Peace, Department 1 seat in a 2018-11-06 retention vote, with 89.44% of Gallatin County voters voting yes (40,279 to 4,757).
November 6, 2018
Source: gallatinmt.gov
Sentenced Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte for assaulting a reporter. West gave no jail time and ordered a $385 fine, 40 hours of community service, and 20 hours of anger management.
June 12, 2017
Source: mtpr.org
Won election as Gallatin County Justice of the Peace, Department 1, on 2010-11-02, defeating incumbent Wanda Drusch 13,146 votes to 11,191.
November 2, 2010
Source: gallatinmt.gov
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 1 favorable
Ordered Rep. Greg Gianforte to be booked, photographed and fingerprinted for his assault conviction by Sept. 15, 2017. He rejected Gianforte's argument that a justice court lacked that power.
August 21, 2017Favorable on Impartiality
Source: pbs.org
Past race Rick West ran in:
- Shall Judge RICK WEST of the JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DEPARTMENT 1 of the state of Montana be retained in office for another term? · November 3, 2026 · Gallatin County, Montana · incumbent