Candidate Questionnaire: Gallatin County Attorney

Audrey Cromwell

(D) — County Attorney

Marty Lambert

(R) — County Attorney

What is your long-term vision for the Gallatin County judicial system? What steps would you take as attorney to help the county get there?

Cromwell: The County Attorney leads the County’s team of criminal and civil lawyers, provides legal advice to County departments, and sets policy for criminal justice enforcement and reform. I believe our County’s criminal justice and mental health systems need smart reform. We must hold folks accountable for crime, while simultaneously addressing the underlying root causes, such as mental health disorders and addiction. In order for Gallatin County to be a modern leader in public safety, we must value the prevention of crime, in addition to punitive and restorative responses.

In this regard, drug and behavioral health courts work. These specialized courts use wrap-around services, including treatment, mental health support, assistance with housing, medication, and support for children. I helped to start a drug court in Yellowstone County and know firsthand their effectiveness in breaking vicious cycles and returning someone suffering with mental illness or drug addiction to health. I will prioritize partnerships with our Judges to start another treatment court, use my grant writing experience to secure funding, and work to create additional prosecution-led diversion programs focused on rehabilitation, when appropriate.

Lambert: I’ve often been told that it takes way too long for our County’s courts to adjudicate cases. I’ve heard that from litigants, crime victims, and many others who work both inside and outside of our justice system. I share those concerns.

In 2021 the Legislature approved a fourth district judge for Gallatin County, but according to the statewide caseload statistics for district judges our County currently merits three additional district judge positions. Lawyers play a key role in helping to provide timely justice for our citizens. We lawyers should assist our judges to reach timely resolution of cases by opposing delay and discouraging our fellow attorneys from dilatory practices. Article II, Section 16 of Montana’s Constitution guarantees our citizens speedy justice. As County Attorney I will see to it that my deputies and I do all that we can to secure speedy justice for our citizens.

What issue would be your very first priority if elected county attorney? What action would you take to address it?

Cromwell: The attorneys and staff at the County Attorney’s Office work extremely hard with few resources. Under my opponent’s poor leadership, the County Attorney’s Office is not meeting our community needs: crushing caseloads and attorney turnover due to burnout means important cases are being dismissed, victims are unsupported, and Gallatin County is failing to protect our community, including the most vulnerable among us. Some attorney caseloads have reached 300 to 400 cases at a time. This year, Gallatin County overtook Missoula in number of residents. The Missoula County Attorney employs 26 attorneys plus support staff. The Gallatin County Attorney currently has 10 attorneys, and 2 vacancies.

My first goal is to ensure that my staff have the adequate resources to manage their current caseloads. This could mean hiring additional attorneys, support staff, or social workers to assist with case management to keep our growing community safe.

I have forged positive working relationships with the County Commissioners and will work with them to create a long-term hiring plan for the County Attorney’s Office. I will also apply for grants available through the Department of Justice and the state, and establish community partnerships, to help fund vital restorative justice programs.

Lambert: Gallatin County should improve the manner in which we deal with persons suffering from mental health crises. In the past the Hope House, a crisis stabilization facility operated by a non-profit corporation, provided adequate services. In 2017 the quality of its services began to decline. The services deteriorated to the point that in 2021 the Sheriff stopped taking persons in crisis to the Hope House. The Sheriff currently takes all persons in crisis to the emergency department of Bozeman Health.

Effective crisis response is a means through which we can avoid some emergency detentions altogether. The Sheriff and I are currently working to improve mobile crisis services by utilizing trained civilians to calm distressed persons and connect persons with community resources. If detention is needed, the Sheriff and I are working to improve the quality of crisis services and to have alternatives to detention, such as a transitional living facility, available for persons in crisis. I am working to ensure this County has proper aftercare and transition resources available for those who return to Gallatin County after being treated at the Montana State Hospital.

What’s the most important lesson or principle you’ve learned from your experience in law and how would you apply it as county attorney?

Cromwell: As an attorney, I have often advocated for those in mental health crisis. This is not a political issue for me, but central to who I am as someone working in criminal law and as a human.

Because of a lack of facilities, folks arrested due to a mental health crisis (like a suicide attempt) are currently handcuffed and transported to the state hospital in Warm Springs in the back of a sheriff’s vehicle. This short-sighted policy stresses those already in crisis, their families, and the justice and medical systems.

As the County Attorney’s Office is responsible for caring for those in crisis, I will work closely with law enforcement, hospitals, county and city leadership, and community partners to develop crisis intervention services and continuity of care for our citizens in Gallatin County. The County Attorney’s Office must function as a partner among many in this discussion, as well as legal advisor to the Commission on this issue.

I will focus on providing crisis intervention and continuity of care, locally. But it’s larger than that – we must provide mobile crisis response, intervention, and on-going support to ensure people can stabilize and feel safe. Lives depend on it.

Lambert: I’ve served as Gallatin County for 26 years. There are many rewards, personal and professional, for an attorney who applies himself or herself to this job. There are manychallenges, however, including having to make difficult decisions that will disappoint or infuriate some of the people you serve.

You cannot avoid making such decisions in this job. It’s not easy to make the phone call to the person disappointed with your decision, or to sit down in a face-to-face meeting with the person infuriated with your decision. A good leader and decent person nevertheless makes the call and attends the meeting. You owe the people you serve a direct explanation for your decision, and you should, within reason, understand and accept their responses, even if the responses are illogical or unfair.

Importantly, you must not put off that phone call or that meeting. Make the call first thing; get the meeting on your calendar.

Why should MSU students, faculty and staff vote for you?

Cromwell: Your vote will ensure that Gallatin County becomes a safer, more caring place to live, work, and go to school. I’m the only candidate with experience in every legal aspect of criminal justice, having served Montana as a Judge pro tem, public defender, legal aid attorney, prosecutor, and private defense attorney. Additionally, I founded a successful law firm, started the ASMSU Legal Services program for student legal services here at MSU, broke new ground in the field of collaborative law, and built multiple programs to provide access to legal care for our community. I have been endorsed by the Montana Conservation Voters, who support community leaders fighting for a healthier climate at all levels of government. I also strongly believe in Montanans’ inherent right to privacy: as County Attorney, I will safeguard this privacy by declining to prosecute cases related to private health care decisions in Gallatin County.

Under my proven leadership, the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office can become a gold-standard, modern leader in public safety, offender accountability, and crime prevention and rehabilitation.

Let’s work together to build a better future for all of Gallatin County!

Please consider voting for me, Audrey Cromwell, for County Attorney.

Lambert: As your County Attorney for the past 26 years I’ve proven an effective advocate and leader; successfully prosecuted felonies including homicides; protected the County from illegal subdivision and land use practices, protected our water users from illegal diversion of surface waters, and helped create our Treatment Court, Domestic Violence Response Team, Sexual Assault Response Team, and Child Multi-Disciplinary Team.

I’m passionate about my job, and I’m ready for the challenges ahead. I have the support of our Sheriff, Dan Springer. If re-elected, I look forward to working to protect and serve you, your loved ones, and our community.