Paul G. Hatfield | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana | |
| In office February 9, 1996 – July 3, 2000 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana | |
| In office 1990–1996 | |
| Preceded by | James F. Battin |
| Succeeded by | Jack D. Shanstrom |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana | |
| In office May 10, 1979 – February 9, 1996 | |
| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Russell Evans Smith |
| Succeeded by | Donald W. Molloy |
| United States Senator fromMontana | |
| In office January 22, 1978 – December 14, 1978 | |
| Appointed by | Thomas Lee Judge |
| Preceded by | Lee Metcalf |
| Succeeded by | Max Baucus |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Gerhart Hatfield (1928-04-29)April 29, 1928 Great Falls,Montana, U.S. |
| Died | July 3, 2000(2000-07-03) (aged 72) Great Falls, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Montana (LLB) |
Paul Gerhart Hatfield (April 29, 1928 – July 3, 2000) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist. He served briefly asUnited States Senator fromMontana in 1978, and then as aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana.
Born inGreat Falls,Montana, Hatfield attended the College of Great Falls (nowUniversity of Great Falls). He served in theUnited States Army Signal Corps with the 181st Signal Depot Company, from 1951 to 1953, including inKorea during theKorean War from 1952 to 1953.[1] He received aBachelor of Laws from theAlexander Blewett III School of Law at theUniversity of Montana inMissoula in 1955.
Hatfield was admitted to the Montana bar that same year, commencing his practice in Great Falls.[2] He was chief deputycounty attorney forCascade County from 1959 to 1960 and served as judge of the Eighth Judicial District from 1961 to 1976. He was electedChief Justice of theMontana Supreme Court in the 1976 general election, defeating long-time Associate Justice Wesley Castles with a vote of 199,536 (67.5%) to 95,947 (32.5%), taking office in January 1977.
On January 22, 1978,Montana GovernorThomas Lee Judge appointed Hatfield to theUnited States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofLee Metcalf for the term ending January 3, 1979. He served from January 22, 1978, until his resignation December 14, 1978. He was defeated for nomination in the Democratic primary in June 1978 by CongressmanMax Baucus with Baucus getting 87,085 votes (65.3%) to Hatfield's 25,789 (19.3%). There were two other minor candidates in the race. After that nominating defeat, Hatfield remained in the Senate until his own resignation when the election of his successor, Baucus, was officially certified after the general election in November 1978. Max Baucus praised his former primary opponent for being "one of the most decent and thoughtful people I've had the privilege of knowing."[3]
On March 15, 1979, Hatfield was nominated by PresidentJimmy Carter to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana vacated by JudgeRussell Evans Smith. Hatfield was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on May 9, 1979, and received his commission the following day. He served as Chief Judge from 1990 to 1996, assumingsenior status on February 9, 1996, and continuing to serve until the end of his life.[2] Hatfield was a resident of Great Falls from 1979 until his death on July 3, 2000.[4] He is buried in Riverside Memorial Park inSpokane,Washington.[5]
Hatfield died inGreat Falls, Montana in July 2000. The Paul G. Hatfield Courthouse inHelena, Montana is named in his honor.
| U.S. Senate | ||
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| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Montana 1978 Served alongside:John Melcher | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court 1977–1978 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana 1979–1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Montana 1990–1996 | Succeeded by |
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| Class 2 | ||
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| People | |
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