ATTACK ADS AND JUDICIAL CANDIDATES Canon No. 1, of the Montana Code of Judicial Conduct, states: A JUDGE SHALL UPHOLD AND PROTECT THE INDEPENDENCE, INTEGRITY AND IMPARTIALITY OF THE JUDICIARY, AND SHALL AVOID IMPROPRIETY AND THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY. Many Montana District Court Judges and Justices of the Supreme Court are deeply concerned by the dark money attacks on a present candidate for the Montana Supreme Court, and its potential impact on the integrity and independence of the Montana Judiciary. Dirk Sandefur has been a respected Cascade County District Court Judge for 14 years. He is widely respected for his intelligence, integrity, common sense and work ethic. In his last election, he received 88% of the votes in Cascade County, where he is best known. Before he went to law school, he was a police officer in Havre. To suggest he is “soft on crime” is not true. Yet, he is being portrayed in political attack ads as soft on sex criminals and basically unfit for office. Cherry picked, from the thousands of cases Judge Sandefur has handled, are a few cases which are then inaccurately portrayed. The sentences in each of those cases were consistent with the recommendations of the prosecuting attorneys, and the guidelines established by the legislature. The media attacks against Judge Sandefur are extremely misleading and unfair. Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent on television, newspapers and direct mail attacks, paid for by undisclosed dark money. Neither the source of the money nor the agenda of the contributors are ever revealed. This is not intended to be an endorsement of either candidate. It is intended to strongly encourage voters to seek out information about judicial candidates from reliable sources, not from this kind of misleading political attack. Hon. Robert B. Allison Hon. Kurt Krueger Hon. Mike Salvagni District Judge, Kalispell District Judge, Butte District Judge, Bozeman Hon. Elizebeth Best Hon. John Kutzman Hon. Kathy Seeley District Judge, Great Falls District Judge, Great Falls District Judge, Helena Hon. Kathy Bidegary Justice William Leaphart (Ret) Justice James Jeremiah Shea District Judge, Sidney Montana Supreme Court, Helena Montana Supreme Court, Helena Hon. Holly Brown Hon. James Manley Hon. Gregory R. Todd District Judge, Bozeman District Judge, Polson and Thompson District Judge, Billings Falls Hon. John C. Brown Hon. Karen Townsend District Judge, Bozeman Chief Justice Mike McGrath District Judge, Missoula and Superior Montana Supreme Court, Helena Hon. Robert L. “Dusty” Deschamps Justice Terry Trieweiler (Ret) District Judge, Missoula and Superior Hon. Ed McLain (Ret) Montana Supreme Court, Helena District Judge, Missoula Hon. Amy Eddy Hon. Loren Tucker District Judge, Kalispell Justice Jim Nelson (Ret) District Judge, Virginia City, Dillon and Montana Supreme Court, Helena Boulder Hon. Ingrid G. Gustafson District Judge, Billings Justice Jim Regnier (Ret) Justice John Warner (Ret.) Montana Supreme Court, Helena Montana Supreme Court, Helena Hon. James A. Haynes District Judge, Hamilton .