Sheffield picked for JP
New judge is retired sheriff’s deputy
by Kootenai Valley Record
February 6, 2009
Jay Sheffield, a sheriff’s deputy with 30 years of experience in law enforcement, has been chosen from a field of 26 applicants to replace Gary Hicks as justice of the peace.
Hicks was removed from office by the Montana Supreme Court on Dec. 30 for ethical violations involving sexual remarks and solicitations toward women who appeared in his court. Sheffield was picked by the county commissioners on Friday to serve out the nearly two years remaining on the term.
"It has been the board’s intent through this whole process to bring back integrity to the court that has been lost over the past," said Commissioner John Konzen. "We feel very confident that this appointment will accomplish that."
Sheffield moved to Libby following his retirement from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department in California in 2004. He had served as a deputy there since 1979, with the last five years spent working as a bailiff in the court system.
After moving to Libby, Sheffield commuted back to San Diego to work on a part-time basis several times a year while also working as a substitute teacher in Libby schools. He was hired for a temporary deputy’s position at the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in May 2007 and worked as a patrol deputy until last summer, when he moved into a newly created civil/transport deputy’s position.
The commissioners selected Sheffield after interviewing five of the 26 applicants for the post. In addition to Sheffield, the finalists were retired chiropractor Don Cox, who ran as a Republican candidate in last spring’s county commissioner primary; Brent McCollum, former Stimson Lumber Co. employee and reserve deputy who currently works as a logger and rancher; Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services employee Suzanne Maki Rios; and Judy Sixkiller, who works as civil clerk for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Also applying for the position were Basem "Ben" Amin, Jack L. Backen, F. Colin Barnett, Clayton L. Coker, Thomas Creighton, William F. Cunnane, Allen Lee Dye, Lori Hall Gonzales, Steve Gunderson, Franklin D. Hendrickson, Teresa Rayome Kelly, John C. King, Terry Langston, Charlene Leckrone, James Brandon Littrell, Craig L. Martin, Helen M. Massey, Herbert D. Shuck, James Robert Smith, Dale E. Swapinski, and Clarence Jene Winn.
"We are very pleased about the many people that stepped forward and submitted their names for consideration for this difficult job," said Commissioner Tony Berget. "The many comments we received from the public on the various candidates also substantiated the high attributes of those considered for the position."
Consistency in sentencing, the dignity of the court, and respect for those appearing or participating in court proceedings were the foremost goals in making the appointment, the commissioners said.
"We want to extend a sincere thanks to Terry Utter, a justice of the peace from Eureka, for filling in and helping the court function during this vacant period," said Commissioner Marianne Roose. "The staff in the office also deserves a big pat on the back for their continued efforts in managing the office and working through these difficult times with us."
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Editor’s Note: See the February 3, 2009 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, now on Tuesday, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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