BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) - Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Wheat plans to retire on Dec. 31.
The 69-year-old justice tells the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (https://bit.ly/2vNamIy ) that it’s time for him to start a new chapter in his life.
He submitted a resignation letter to Chief Justice Mike McGrath earlier this week.
Wheat has five years remaining in his eight-year term.
Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock will appoint a replacement from a group of candidates to be nominated by the Montana Judicial Nomination Commission.
Wheat was appointed in 2010 to replace retired Justice John Warner.
He was re-elected in 2014.
Wheat, a Bozeman resident, spent 30 years as a partner in a private law practice and served two terms as a Democratic legislator.
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This story has been updated to correct Wheat’s age to 69.
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Information from: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com
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