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Judge Molloy to step aside in 2011
The Western News, December 28, 2010 [here]
From the largest environmental crime trial in U.S. history to Forest Service logging projects to the status of gray wolves, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy’s decisions have certainly impacted Libby and Troy residents.
Molloy, 64, recently announced plans to take “senior status” in August – a term used in his profession as retiring from active service. Senior judges are periodically invited to hear cases heard by appeal courts.
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) announced the formation of a search committee to find Molloy’s replacement. A committee made up of attorneys Milton Datsopoulos of Missoula, James Goetz of Bozeman, Karla Gray, former state Supreme Court chief justice, Candace Fetscher of Missoula, and Martha Sheehy of Billings will recommend a candidate to Baucus, who will then in turn make a nomination to President Barack Obama.
Molloy has been at the center of some of the most controversial court rulings in state history. Among those were placing wolves in Montana and Idaho back on the endangered species list, halting various logging sales, stopping Forest Service plans to drop retardant on fires and blocking Montana and other states from opting out of federal gun laws. … [more]