Paul G. Hatfield

Paul Gerhart Hatfield (April 29, 1928 – July 3, 2000) was an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He served briefly as United States Senator from Montana in 1978, and then as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana.

Paul G. Hatfield
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
In office February 9, 1996 – July 3, 2000
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
In office 1990–1996
Preceded by	James Franklin Battin
Succeeded by	Jack D. Shanstrom
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
In office May 10, 1979 – February 9, 1996
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Russell Evans Smith
Succeeded by	Donald W. Molloy
United States senator from Montana
In office January 22, 1978 – December 14, 1978
Appointed by	Thomas Lee Judge
Preceded by	Lee Metcalf
Succeeded by	Max Baucus
Personal details
Born	Paul Gerhart Hatfield (1928-04-29)April 29, 1928 Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
Died	July 3, 2000(2000-07-03) (aged 72) Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	College of Great Falls Alexander Blewett III School of Law (LL.B.)

Education and career

Born in Great Falls, Montana, Hatfield attended the College of Great Falls (now University of Great Falls). He served in the United States Army Signal Corps with the 181st Signal Depot Company, from 1951 to 1953, including in Korea during the Korean War from 1952 to 1953.[1] He received a Bachelor of Laws from the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana in Missoula in 1955, and was admitted to the Montana bar that same year, commencing his practice in Great Falls.[2] He was chief deputy county attorney for Cascade County from 1959 to 1960 and served as judge of the Eighth Judicial District from 1961 to 1976. He was elected Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court in the 1976 general election, defeating long-time Associate Justice Wesley Castles with a vote of 199,536 (67.5%) to 95,947 (32.5%), taking office in January 1977.

United States Senate service

On January 22, 1978, Montana Governor Thomas Lee Judge appointed Hatfield to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lee Metcalf for the term ending January 3, 1979. He served from January 22, 1978, until his resignation December 14, 1978. He was defeated for renomination in the Democratic primary in June 1978 by Congressman Max Baucus with Baucus getting 87,085 votes (65.3%) to Hatfield's 25,789 (19.3%). There were two other minor candidates in the race. After that nominating defeat, Hatfield remained in the Senate until his own resignation when the election of his successor, Baucus, was officially certified after the general election in November 1978. Max Baucus praised his former primary opponent for being "one of the most decent and thoughtful people I've had the privilege of knowing."[3]

Federal judicial service

On March 15, 1979, Hatfield was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Montana vacated by Judge Russell Evans Smith. Hatfield was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 9, 1979, and received his commission the following day. He served as Chief Judge from 1990 to 1996, assuming senior status on February 9, 1996, and continuing to serve until the end of his life.[2] Hatfield was a resident of Great Falls from 1979 until his death on July 3, 2000.[4] He is buried in Riverside Memorial Park in Spokane, Washington.[5]

Legacy

Hatfield was regarded as a courageous United States Senator whose primary election defeat in 1978 is widely regarded as a consequence of his unpopular, but principled and decisive vote in favor of the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty and as the most outstanding jurist in Montana history. He died in Great Falls. The Paul G. Hatfield Courthouse in Helena is named in his honor.

References

1. Molloy, Donald W. "U.S. District Court, District of Montana Judge Paul G. Hatfield 'He Was the Same Person in Court, at Home or at the Racetrack'", Duke Law: Center for Judicial Studies, November 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
2. Paul Gerhart Hatfield at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
3. Saxon, Wolfgang (July 5, 2000). "Paul Hatfield, 72, Whose Vote On Panama Canal Was Decisive". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
4. "Archives West: Guide to the Paul G. Hatfield Papers, 1977-2000". nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu.
5. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Hatfield". politicalgraveyard.com.

External links

• United States Congress. "Paul G. Hatfield (id: H000344)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Paul Gerhart Hatfield at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

U.S. Senate
Preceded by Lee Metcalf	U.S. senator (Class 2) from Montana 1978 Served alongside: John Melcher	Succeeded by Max Baucus
Legal offices
Preceded by Russell Evans Smith	Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana 1979–1996	Succeeded by Donald W. Molloy
Preceded by James Franklin Battin	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana 1990–1996	Succeeded by Jack D. Shanstrom

Political offices
Preceded by James T. Harrison	Justice of the Montana Supreme Court 1977	Succeeded by Frank I Haswell