Tasha Morehouse-Mix Appoined as City Judge

Tasha Morehouse-Mix has been appointed as the new Glasgow City Court judge.

Morehouse-Mix succeeds former Judge Lynn Gilbert, who is retiring after years of service. Morehouse-Mix presided over her first hearing late last week after being appointed to the position by the Glasgow City Council July 6. The City Court handles misdemeanor cases. Felony cases are the responsibility of the District Court.

"I had looked at it for quite some time, and when they opened it up without a verified wage, I decided to put in for it," Morehouse-Mix told The Courier. "Really, it has always been my end goal to sit in this position. It just came a lot sooner than anticipated."

Morehouse-Mix, a native of Glasgow, has been in law enforcement since graduating from high school. In addition, she comes from a family of police officers, including her father.

Her most recent posting was as the evidence technician for the Glasgow Police Department.

Her responsibilities included chain of custody for evidence collected during the investigation of crimes. This is an essential function of police work, because failure to maintain the chain would likely result in the evidence being ejected by the court during a trial.

"I have fairly good knowledge of criminal law," Morehouse-Mix said. "The judicial side of the system is completely different as far as how it is served. But, the fact of how I have a good idea of how it works on that side will fall over into this side, so I am not coming in green. I have a good grasp on it, I think. I am familiar with Montana Code Annotated system and how those play out."

Even so, Morehouse-Mix is hitting the books to gain additional expertise in legal matters.

"There are a few different books of case law I need to start reading through and familiarizing myself with. In September I will attend the judges school. You have to take a test to get certified, which will happen sometime between now and probably the first of the year. You also attend a spring conference every year, so you are attending conferences at least twice a year."

Having grown up in Valley County, Morehouse-Mix is quite familiar with many area residents. As judge, she said she sets aside all personal opinions.

"You just have to be unbiased and impartial. You look at the facts and only the facts. Your opinions can't weigh in."

Morehouse-Mix said separation of her judicial responsibilities from her personal life is not difficult.

"It is really not an issue for me. I grew up in the law enforcement world, so it is second nature. I graduated from high school, and that summer I went into being a reserve deputy for the Valley County Sheriff's Office, and I did that for a year-and-a-half. It just isn't an issue. It is how it is. My personal life is my personal life. My work life is my work life. I just separate them. You have to do that. You can't take it home. You have to live separate lives."

In the following weeks and months, Morehouse-Mix will receive training from both Gilbert and the Honorable Judge Perry W. Miller, who presides over Justice Court in Blaine County.

"Judge Lynn Gilbert will help and Perry will be my go to," Morehouse-Mix said. "He will spend some days over here with me, and then I will spend some days over their with him."

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Morehouse-Mix intends on sitting on the bench in Glasgow for the long term.

"It came a lot sooner than anticipated, but that is my goal, to retire from here," she said. "My goal is to serve our community in an unbiased-impartial way."