Judge Shane A. Vannatta: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Shane A. Vannatta is a judge for the 4th Judicial District Court of Montana. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Steve Bullock on February 5, 2019, filling the newly-created judicial position by the 2017 Legislature.

The 4th Judicial District includes Mineral and Missoula Counties.

Vannatta was in private practice for twenty-five years at Worden Thane, PC (1993 to 2019) before his appointment to the bench. He became a shareholder at the firm in 2001, and his practice there focused on business law matters, including copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, employment, business acquisitions, real property, and contract drafting. Vannatta also maintained both a transactional and litigation practice. In addition, he spent eighteen years as a justice of the peace for the Missoula County Justice Court.

Vannatta received a B.A. in political science from the University of Montana in 1990. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Montana, Alexander Blewett III School of Law, in 1993.

Vannatta is a past president of the State Bar of Montana.

He was recognized in Missoula as Lawyer of the Year for Work in Corporate Law (2016, 2019) and Lawyer of the Year for Work in Litigation - Labor & Employment (2014).