Senate confirms Supreme Court Justice Jim Shea

HELENA (AP) – The state Senate has confirmed Justice Jim Shea to the Montana Supreme Court.

Lee Newspapers of Montana reports Shea was confirmed 41-9 Tuesday, with all the “no” votes coming from Republicans.

Gov. Steve Bullock appointed Shea to complete the term of former Justice Brian Morris, who resigned to accept an appointment as a U.S. District Judge. Shea was sworn in last June, but still needed to be confirmed by the Senate.

Shea is a Butte native who received his bachelor’s degree and his law degree at the University of Montana. He worked as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Paul Hatfield, practiced law in both Portland, Oregon and Missoula and taught work-comp law at the University of Montana law school. He served as state workers’ compensation judge from 2005 until last year.