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with John Hoyt from 1984 to 1985. She and her husband established the firm of Cotter and Cotter in 1985. She was Chair of the Amicus
Committee for the Montana Trial Lawyers' Association from 1993 to 1999.
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with a B.S. in
Political Science and History. Prior to law school, she worked two years as paralegal for a Chicago law firm that specialized in real estate law. Justice Cotter's law degree is from the
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She is admitted to practice before the Fort Peck Tribal Court of
Appeals, the Eighth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals, the United States Court of Claims, and the United States Supreme Court.
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In 1999, Cotter entered the election race for the
Montana Supreme Court. On January 1, 2001, Justice Cotter became Montana’s third female Supreme Court Justice, following
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In 2006, she was presented the Edward C. Alexander Award for distinguished legal service and professionalism by the
Cascade County Bar Association.
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Cotter received the
Montana Trial Lawyers Association's Public Service Award in 1992 and 1998. This was to honor her preparation and filing of
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Associate
Justice. She was first elected on November 7, 2000, filling the seat of the retired Justice
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Justice Cotter practiced law for six years in South Bend, after which she and her husband
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115:. She was reelected to a second term in 2008, and retired in 2016.
316:. Montana Trial Lawyers' Association. August 8, 2013
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158:. Her reelection in 2008 was unopposed.
198:. Marquis Who's Who. 2003. p. 155.
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142:moved to Montana. She practiced law in
219:"Supreme Court of Montana Biographies"
430:Politicians from Great Falls, Montana
405:Justices of the Montana Supreme Court
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195:Who's Who in American Law, 2003-2004
33:Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
445:21st-century American women judges
435:20th-century American women judges
415:Western Michigan University alumni
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425:People from South Bend, Indiana
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450:21st-century American judges
440:20th-century American judges
420:Notre Dame Law School alumni
129:Western Michigan University
89:1950 (age 73–74)
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285:. Montana Judicial Branch
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339:Patricia O'Brien Cotter
253:. University of Montana
105:Patricia O'Brien Cotter
23:Patricia O'Brien Cotter
367:Montana Supreme Court
133:Notre Dame Law School
109:Montana Supreme Court
144:Great Falls, Montana
125:South Bend, Indiana
92:South Bend, Indiana
107:(born 1950) was a
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371:2000-2016
227:August 23,
180:References
152:Diane Barz
135:in 1977.
44:2000–2016
40:In office
119:History
165:Honors
94:, U.S.
320:1 May
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283:(PDF)
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