Dan Wilson

From James E. Trevino, “Support Wilson for Supreme Court” Flathead Beacon (January 13, 2024)

• “He’s not a politician; he’s a judge. Someone who was born to fix things. Someone who’s not afraid to make the hard decision none of us want to. For more than t12 years he has stood in the line of fire as a Flathead County District Court Judge, heard hundreds of cases, seen things we only read about in the papers. Anyone remember when he opposed Gov. Steve Bullock’s mask mandate and the state’s request to shut down five local businesses?”  
• The article further stated, “He ruled for the businesses, against the Governor, while most of us could only complain. He wants to be a Montana Supreme Court Judge because he believes in the rule of law, in common sense, and equality for all. Love him or not, he’s no chameleon. He says what he means. He stands on principle with both feet planted firmly on the ground. When he says he can be unbiased, fair, non-partisan, I believe him. His careful choice of words, his measured reasoning, the thoughtful look on his face tell you he’s sincere.” 

Montana Free Press “Election 2024 Guide” and survey for Dan Wilson.

• “Judges at all levels of our justice system should be able to consider and understand the viewpoints of all parties to a case,” Wilson told MTFP. “I believe my experience both as an attorney and trial court judge has prepared me well for a seat on the Montana Supreme Court, which requires its members to understand the viewpoints of all parties so that every case can be decided fully and fairly according to the law.”
• “'Whether Montanans are content or disappointed with various decisions by our Supreme Court in recent years, the stakes for Montanans and our Constitution are the same, regardless of the year or the election,' Wilson told MTFP. 'The question is whether we will have a court seen as respectful of the Constitution and the rule of law — including the law of precedent — or whether we will have one seen as stepping outside of its own boundaries.'”
• "My judicial philosophy is simple: interpret and apply the provisions of the United States and Montana Constitutions and all laws according to their original intent and plain meaning, and do not allow personal views or the views of special interests to determine the outcome of any case. Respect the rule of law, including the law of precedent, and do not legislate from the bench."
• "In my understanding, a good Supreme Court justice subscribes to this philosophy or one similar to it. A bad Supreme Court justice, on the other hand, decides cases based on personal views or preferences rather than basing decisions on higher, governing principles of law."
• "The Supreme Court must earn the respect of all Montanans by issuing decisions which are firmly rooted in the Constitution and our laws and by providing reasons for its decisions which stand up to the most rigorous standards. When the court lives up to these ideals, it will achieve and maintain its proper role and authority as the independent and non-political decider of the cases that come before it."
  

From Fagg, Russell C., et al. "Guest View: Judges Endorse Dan Wilson for Montana Supreme Court." Missoulian, 11 Jan. 2024.

• “We find that he possesses the experience and background, judicial demeanor and work ethic, and a singular devotion to the Constitution and rule of law to make him a stalwart member of our Supreme Court.” (See: Russell C. Fagg, et al., “Guest view: Judges endorse Dan Wilson for Montana Supreme Court” Missoulian (January 11, 2024)

From Wilson's campaign website:

• "I am honored to announce my candidacy for Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court. Throughout my career, I have been committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting the rights of Montanans, and ensuring fair and impartial decisions. If elected, I will bring my extensive experience, unwavering dedication to the Constitution and the rule of law to uphold justice."
  

From Denali Sagner “Supreme Court Candidate Dan Wilson Tells Voters He is Devoted ‘to the Game’” Flathead Beacon (November 20, 2023)

• “The one thing that I’ve noticed about common sense during my lifetime, and I would bet almost anything that you’ve noticed it too, is that is doesn’t seem to be quite as common as it used to be,” said Wilson. “Wilson continued: ‘It means, not only a particular approach to a problem, but it also means a person who approaches a problem steeped in Montana’s values, its traditions, its deeply held beliefs, but also with the notion that there is a solution to every problem and it must be based on principles and law, and for judges, the Constitution, which in any event, is a power and authority that’s higher than any of us, or all of us put together.’”
• "Wilson continued: 'It means, not only a particular approach to a problem, but it also means a person who approaches a problem steeped in Montana’s values, its traditions, its deeply held beliefs, but also with the notion that there is a solution to every problem and it must be based on principles and law, and for judges, the Constitution, which in any event, is a power and authority that’s higher than any of us, or all of us put together.'"
• "'There are very deeply held beliefs and opinions held in just about every sector of our political life. All the various actors, all the various groups, they consider themselves completely nonpartisan. I know that I am,' Wilson said."
• "'The Supreme Court may only declare a legislative enactment to be unconstitutional if it is shown to be beyond a reasonable doubt that the legislation is in conflict with the constitution itself. That, I can tell you, is a very tall order,' Wilson said."
• "Wilson said it is 'a very dangerous road to follow' to 'borrow doctrines or jurisprudence from particular parts of the Constitution and graph them onto others where perhaps the issue is silent.'"
  

From Perkins, Derrick. "District Judge Dan Wilson Launches Bid for State Supreme Court." Daily Inter Lake, 22 June 2023[.]

• Wilson believes the [abortion] matter is straightforward. 'The abortion issue has been decided by our Supreme Court, first in the Armstrong case, recently affirmed, and Armstrong is precedent,' he said."
  
• "... For me, an independent judge and an independent judiciary means that we don’t refuse to talk to people, we don’t refuse to listen to people from all parts of the political spectrum, but when we are elected, when we are deciding cases, no one from a political party or even someone who says they represent the broad swath of independent voters can call us up and demand a particular ruling or result,” Wilson said.
• “It’s important to me that the judiciary remain not only independent, but that it remain mindful that neither it nor the other branches of government should try to do the work of the others,” Wilson said.

Schultz, Tom, host. "Judge Dan Wilson On the Run – For Montana Supreme Court." Voices of Montana, 23 Jan. 2024.

"The KGEZ Good Morning Show, Judge Dan Wilson 7-28." KGEZ Good Morning Show, 28 Jul. [2023].

Ambarian, Jonathon. "Candidates Begin Making Cases for Open Montana Supreme Court Seats." KPAX, 5 Jul. 2023.

•  "Wilson said he wants to stress an approach to cases that’s based on the plain language of the law. 'Common sense not only means that we should look at the law and interpret it without regard to what a special interest group might prefer that we find for a meaning or even what our personal preferences might be – but merely to say what is there, and not to seek to put what is not there,' he said."

Montana Free Press Staff (MTFP). "The Other State Supreme Court Race." Montana Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024.

• "Whether I win or lose this election, I’m going to be for the entire campaign a district court judge.  And in that role, it’s merely my function to be faithful to the rule of law as it’s handed down from the Supreme Court."
• "And part of being faithful to the rule of law, he said, is respecting precedent. 'You should not proceed willy-nilly to overturn an established precedent, but should only do so in the most compelling circumstances,' he said[.]" 
• "Asked whether he thinks the court is prone to 'legislating from the bench' — a criticism often  lobbed by Republicans who claim the court is wrongly finding their bills unconstitutional — he said he’s “not really in a position to criticize” the justices."

From Perkins, Derrick. "District Judge Dan Wilson Launches Bid for State Supreme Court." Daily Inter Lake, 22 June 2023[.]

• "Wilson emphasized his approach to interpreting and applying the law. He starts with a reading of the plain text of the state Constitution or statute in question, he said. Then he applies common sense. '... A commonsense approach to the law is that when you read the law or the opinion of the court it is not proper for a judge to go looking for a meaning they would rather find,' Wilson said."