What are City Courts?
"City Judge Selection and Qualifications in Montana: Ordinance Authority and Term Rules"
Even though state law does not mandate that a city court judge be an attorney, several are because this additional qualification may be set forth in a city or town ordinance 3‐11‐202, MCA. The city and town councils of Montana’s 115 Class 3 Cities and Towns may decide by ordinance whether to appoint or elect the city judge to the required four-year term of office, 7-4‐4102 and 4103, MCA. Most are elected, as are all the city judges in class 1 and class 2 cities.
However, a number of smaller cities and towns choose to appoint a city judge from a neighboring city or town or to appoint a willing county justice of the peace as the city judge. Approximately 38 county justices of the peace also serve as city judges.