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2024 Lewis and Clark County Justice of the Peace

From the Justice Court website Justice Court is the judicial branch of County government responsible for the processing of all misdemeanor offenses, both traffic, criminal and animal control violations that occur within Lewis and Clark County. It is the court wherein nearly all felony cases that occur within Lewis and Clark County are initially filed. Justice Court processes citations issued by;Montana Highway PatrolLewis and Clark County Sheriff s Office;Montana Fish , Wildlife and Parks DepartmentMotor Carrier Services of the Department of TransportationLewis and Clark County Animal Control OfficerState Department of LivestockState Gambling Control Divisionand in some cases the Helena Police Department.Justice Court also processes civil complaints. Effective July 1, 2011 justice courts jurisdictional limits are not to exceed $12,000.00 and small claims complaints are not to exceed $7,000.00. Justice Court issues orders of protection and search warrants. The court provides an initial appearance to persons arrested on warrants from outside Lewis and Clark County and to persons arrested for probation violations. The justice of the peace is authorized to perform marriages. Ballot will read: FOR JUSTICE OF THE PEACEShall Justice of the Peace MARK PISKOLICH of the Justice Court of the County of Lewis and Clark of the state of Montana be retained in office for another term?Fill in the oval before the word if you wish the official to remain in office.Fill in the oval before the word if you do not wish the official to remain in office.

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  • Candidate picture

    Mark Piskolich
    (NON)

Biographical Information

What are your qualifications for this position?

Why are you running for this position?

What top priorities do you hope to focus on?

Campaign YouTube URL
Campaign Phone 4064383038
Campaign Mailing Address Helena, MT 59601
Education and Occupation 33 years in mental health, correctional and public service.
Other social media I have no current website and little presence or participation in social media. It does not fit well the the duties of my office.
AAS in Law Enforcement, BA in Psychology, 26 years Probation and Parole Officer (6 years State of Montana, 20 years United States Courts), Unit Counselor at Montana State Prison (11 months), Counselor at Rivendell Children’s Hospital (1 year) and most recently, nearly 4 years as Lewis & Clark County Justice of the Peace
The judicial system is the branch where citizens are most likely to interact with their government. As such, it is critical those interactions are managed with consistency and integrity and the participants, be they plaintiffs, respondents, defendants, victims or witnesses, be treated with dignity and respect.

I have spent my career working to demonstrate those principles while ensuring the safety of our community. I first believed and have since discovered this position is ideally suited to the most beneficial use of my experience.
The most critical issues in our Courts are access to the justice system and procedural fairness. Over 70% of litigants today are self-represented in a system that is not “user friendly.” The processes and language necessarily used in the legal system are intimidating and often leave people unsure of how and why events unfold the way they do.

I intend to continue to improve access to my Court (remote appearances, flexible scheduling, etc) and to ensure people understand the processes and limitations of the system.

I will also continue to work with Pretrial Services to find or innovate appropriate alternatives to custody and efforts to correct rather than punish minor offenses such as suspended drivers licenses.