Check out the website: https://lenspoliticalnotes.com Look at the recent Political Notes and Len’s Letters on the website:
August 27th Len’s Political Note #749 Amy Eddy Montana Supreme Court
2026 General Election
Amy Eddy Is a District Court Judge in Montana. She is running to replace retiring Justice Beth Baker
Beth Baker initially ran for Montana’s Supreme Court in 2010. In a state that has been committed to a non-ideological judiciary, Baker had an advantage. Even though she had support from Democrats and left-leaning Montanans, she insisted that her view of the judiciary was that it should be non-partisan.
Her opponent was insistently conservative in this conservative state. Baker was elected with 52.5% of the vote for this position which has an 8 year term. In 2018, in a retention election, she retained on the Court getting 73% of the vote.
Amy Eddy echoes Justice Beth Baker. In its website, the Amy Eddy’s campaign writes:
“For Judge Eddy, the Supreme Court is not a legislature and not a campaign battleground—it is a court of law. It must remain a place where outcomes are determined by the facts and the law, and where every Montanan—regardless of background, income, or political belief—can expect to be treated fairly and equally.
In her courtroom, Judge Eddy hears from Montanans who are deeply concerned about safety in their communities and about the stability of the legal system. She knows that a consistent rule of law is critical—not just for public safety, but also for the health of Montana’s economy. Stability in the law gives small businesses the confidence to plan and grow. It provides Montana’s farmers and ranchers with the certainty they need to make long-term decisions about land and operations. And it empowers personal freedoms. People need to know that the rules will remain steady—that they can be counted on regardless of politics or power.
Judge Eddy believes that the rule of law is more than just a principle—it is the foundation of a free society, and it must be protected.
She also understands that judging is a deeply human endeavor. It is about more than interpreting statutes and precedent; it is about listening—really listening—to the people before the court. Every decision has real consequences for real people, often for generations. That responsibility demands more than legal knowledge. It demands empathy, common sense, and the stamina to show up every day ready to serve.
These are the qualities Judge Eddy has brought to the bench throughout her career. They are the same principles she will carry with her to the Montana Supreme Court.
Judge Amy Eddy is asking for the support of all Montanans—not just as a candidate, but as a fellow citizen who believes in fairness, justice, and the promise of equal treatment under the law. She is ready for the road ahead and looks forward to earning the trust of voters across the state.”
Elements of Amy Eddy’s personal history seem to belong more to legend than to history. She grew up in Idaho, living in a family lodge that was often snowed in during the winter. To get to her K-8 school, beginning as a kindergartener, she skied 2 ½ miles to the school bus stop. Just stop. Contemplate that kindergartener for a moment.
Amy Eddy went west for college – to Cal Tech. She returned to the northwest for law school at the University of Montana. While in Law School, she clerked for US Magistrate Leif Erickson. After graduating, Amy Eddy practiced law in Whitefish, Montana in the Flathead Valley. She was appointed as a district court judge to replace Judge Ted O. Lympus. While in the Flathead communities of Whitefish and Kalispell, Amy Eddy has served as president of the state Trial Lawyers Association, the Northwest Montana Bar Association, and the Whitefish Bar Association.
Announcing her candidacy for the Montana Supreme Court, Amy Eddy rejected any personal participation in the recent legislative effort to make the judicial elections more partisan by allowing political parties to donate to candidates. She said she would not accept donations from any political party.
As a judge, Amy Eddy has had to consider and rule on issues that had political, even partisan implications. She ruled, for instance, that the State of Montana had no obligation to underwrite Lake County’s cost of law enforcement on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Notwithstanding the County’s loss of revenue from the formerly named Kerr Dam, the Governor’s veto of the legislative appropriation of $2.5 million stands. She cited statutory language requiring support “to the extent” the legislature sees fit. She noted the statute now allows Lake County to with draw from the agreement and explained that, notwithstanding concerns about public safety, Lake County’s option for escaping the annual cost of law enforcement is to withdraw from the agreement.
Amy Eddy has an opponent for the position of Montana state supreme court justice. Dan Wilson. In 2024, Wilson ran for the Supreme Court and lost to now Supreme Court Justice Katherine Bidegaray 54 – 46.
Announcing for his campaign for the 2026 election, Wilson said:
“As a native Montanan and a conservative, I firmly believe Supreme Court Justices must apply the law and the constitution as written to all their rulings. As your next Montana Supreme Court Justice, I pledge to follow that guiding conservative principle. I will not be beholden to any special interest group’s agenda, and recognize that the court’s role is to interpret the law as written – not create it,”
In 2020, serving as a judge, he struck down then Democratic Governor’s mask mandate that was intended to help contain the Covid pandemic arguing that the harm from not having the mask mandate must be “balanced with the damage caused to businesses and employees.” . During the 2024 campaign, the largest donor opposing Wilson and the Republican winner of another Supreme Court seat was the American Civil Liberties Union.
You are not a political party. You can donate to this campaign. Defeat Dan Wilson again. Help Amy Eddy win election. DONATE to her campaign.
State Supreme Court Election in November, 2025
Pennsylvania
Three of Pennsylvania’s seven Supreme Court Justices are up for Retention Elections in November. In a Retention Election, common in many states for previously elected justices when their term is up, the voters indicate yes or no on whether the Justice should be retained in his or her seat.
In less partisan times, voters supported retention of judges overwhelmingly. Not so much anymore. Not necessarily in Pennsylvania. National Republicans and Pennsylvania Republicans, in a joint effort to eliminate the 5-2 Democratic majority on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, have organized an effort to oust the three Democratic Supreme Court Justices subject to retention election this November. See Len’s Political Note #See Len’s Political Note #710. A win for each of these Justices would keep the 5-2 Democratic majority on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Christine Donahue came out of the union culture in and around Scranton. BA East Stroudsburg, JD Duquesne. DONATE
Kevin Dougherty was from South Philadelphia. BA Temple, JD Antioch DONATE
David Wecht was originally from Baltimore, but his grandfather ran a grocery store in Pittsburgh, an area he grew to love. BA, JD Yale. DONATE
State Supreme Court in April, 2026
Wisconsin
Chris Taylor grew up in California. She came to Wisconsin for law school and stayed. BA University of Pennsylvania, JD Wisconsin, Madison. DONATE. She is running against the extremely conservative incumbent Rebecca Bradley. A win for Chris Taylor would increase the Democratic majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to 5-2. See Len’s Political Note #731
