Kelli S. Sather

Justice of the Peace Department 2 · Missoula County, Montana · November 3, 2026

Missoula attorney and substitute municipal judge who spent 18 years with the Office of the State Public Defender, challenging incumbent Landee Holloway. Argues a law degree and legal practice are the key qualification and says the justice system often fails to address mental illness, addiction, trauma and poverty.

What this office decides

Justices of the peace run Missoula County Justice Court, which hears misdemeanor and traffic cases, small claims and smaller civil cases, and requests for protective orders. They set bail and sentence people convicted of misdemeanors. Elected countywide in nonpartisan races.

How this race lines up with you

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Dossier

Researched 2026-09-23 · Claude Code research agent with web search

Donald Trump: nothing found. No endorsement or criticism of this candidate by Donald Trump found in searches for this race.

Who they are

Kelli S. Sather is a Missoula attorney challenging incumbent Landee Holloway; she does not hold the seat (City Club Missoula; Missoula County). Her campaign says she is a University of Montana law graduate who worked at the Cascade County Public Defender's Office and in private practice, spent 18 years with the Office of the State Public Defender, now represents parents, children, juveniles and domestic-violence survivors, and serves as a substitute judge in Missoula Municipal Court (campaign).

Positions

Crime & policing: "I have seen how the justice system often fails to address underlying challenges such as mental illness, addiction, trauma, and poverty" (campaign); pledges "fairness and ensuring equal access to justice for all Montanans" (campaign).
Qualifications: Says her law degree and experience as a practicing lawyer are a more valuable asset than the incumbent's bench tenure (reporting, Billings Gazette).
Party politics in courts: No public position found; GoodParty.org lists her as nonpartisan on an unclaimed profile (GoodParty).

Record

No prior elected office found. Professional record: about 25 years in Montana courtrooms, including criminal defense, dependency and neglect, mental-health commitment, guardianship and appellate work (campaign).

Money

No contribution or spending totals found; the state's campaign finance system could not be read by our tools (CERS).

What we couldn't find

Endorsements, primary vote totals, campaign finance, and any statement on bail, sentencing or partisan politics in courts.

Sources (7)