Montana bankruptcy judge announces retirement

HELENA (AP) — Montana’s longtime U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Ralph Kirscher is retiring.

It was announced this weekend that Kirscher will retire effective Jan. 31, 2017.

The 64-year-old Kirscher has been Montana’s only full-time bankruptcy judge for the last 16 years. He was first appointed to the bankruptcy bench in 1999 and reappointed to a second term in 2014.

He maintains court chambers in Butte, but travels much of the state in conducting court business.

In addition to his Montana court duties, Kirscher also has serves on the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, which hears appeals of decisions by bankruptcy courts in nine western states and two Pacific Island jurisdictions.

Kirscher most recently has overseen the bankruptcy proceedings of the Yellowstone Club and resulting litigation against its co-founder Tim Blixseth.