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Shall Judge KELLY MANTOOTH of the JUSTICE OF THE PEACE of the state of Montana be retained in office for another term?

Fergus County, Montana
Retention race

What does this office do?

  • Deciding small-claims cases
  • Handling evictions, in many states
  • Ruling on traffic and minor criminal citations, where state law allows

Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Housing Affordability,

Kelly Mantooth

Nonpartisan · Incumbent

Kelly Mantooth has been the Fergus County Justice of the Peace since 2015 and also hears Lewistown City Court cases. He has called for separating the City and Justice courts as caseloads grow, and got grant money for court security screening.

Where Kelly Mantooth stands, based on their records

Supports

Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record)

Track record

Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control

Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support

  • Filed a response opposing a disability-rights lawsuit asking the Montana Supreme Court to order mass jail releases during COVID-19. He said local releases had already happened and a blanket release was not a good idea.

    April 3, 2020Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

    Source: montanafreepress.org

Track record — General

General · 4 records

  • Got state court grant money to buy a metal detector for courtroom security. He also publicly called for splitting Lewistown City Court from Justice Court after hearing 3,216 criminal cases in 2024.

    April 18, 2026

    Source: lewistownnews.com

  • The Montana Judicial Standards Commission dismissed a complaint about his conduct toward a defendant and spouse. It found he broke no rules of judicial conduct.

    May 20, 2024

    Source: courts.mt.gov

  • Asked the Montana Supreme Court to rule that Fergus County and Lewistown could not legally make the county's only justice of the peace also serve as city judge. The court dismissed his petition, finding no urgent need for it to take the case directly.

    July 9, 2019

    Source: juddocumentservice.mt.gov

  • Reinstated $22,416 in fines and restitution against a Pennsylvania man convicted of 23 illegal hunting counts who skipped his appeal. He also added contempt of court charges.

    July 21, 2015

    Source: lewistownsentinel.com

Sources: fergusmt.gov · mca.legmt.gov