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title: "Ingrid G. Gustafson | KnowJudges"
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updated: "2026-08-22"
---

# Ingrid G. Gustafson

Montana Supreme Court · Justice

## Profile

- Court: Montana Supreme Court
- State: Montana
- Role: Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### ex parte materials

Scope: courtwide

Unless a rule or statute provides otherwise, file and serve documents, briefs, proposed orders, proposed judgments, and other communications before presenting them to the court.

Evidence excerpt: no document, including briefs, proposed orders and proposed judgments, or other communications, may be presented to the court at any time unless it is first filed with the court and served on all parties.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 3](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0030/0250-0190-0010-0030.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### pretrial conference

Scope: courtwide

Unless the court orders otherwise, expect a pretrial conference in every contested civil case.

Evidence excerpt: Unless otherwise ordered by the court, a pre-trial conference shall be held in all contested civil cases.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 5](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0050/0250-0190-0010-0050.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### joint pretrial order

Scope: courtwide

No later than seven days before the pretrial conference, the plaintiff must convene all parties to prepare the proposed pretrial order and present it for signature at the conference.

Evidence excerpt: Not later than seven days prior to the pre-trial conference, Plaintiff shall convene a conference of all parties for the purpose of preparing a pre-trial order.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 5](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0050/0250-0190-0010-0050.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### exhibit objections

Scope: courtwide

Identify each trial exhibit and any objection in the pretrial order. An exhibit offered at trial without a stated pretrial-order objection will be admitted.

Evidence excerpt: Any exhibit offered at the trial to which no objection was made in the pre-trial order will be admitted into evidence.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 5](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0050/0250-0190-0010-0050.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### trial witness disclosure

Scope: courtwide

List in the pretrial order the witnesses who may be called, except rebuttal witnesses.

Evidence excerpt: The following witnesses and no others will (may) be called to testify except on rebuttal.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 5](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0050/0250-0190-0010-0050.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### jury instructions

Scope: courtwide

Deliver proposed jury instructions and verdict forms to the court in duplicate, and serve every opposing party, at the time fixed in the pretrial order.

Evidence excerpt: All proposed jury instructions and verdict forms must be delivered to the court in duplicate and a copy served upon all opposing parties at the time fixed in the pre-trial order.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 7](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0070/0250-0190-0010-0070.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### jury instruction authorities

Scope: courtwide

Identify each proposed jury instruction's source and cite supporting authority at the bottom.

Evidence excerpt: Each proposed instruction shall identify at the bottom its source and cite supporting authorities, if any.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 7](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0070/0250-0190-0010-0070.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### proposed findings

Scope: courtwide

Unless the court orders otherwise, file and serve proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law at least seven days before a trial or hearing where Rule 52 requires them.

Evidence excerpt: all parties shall file with the court, and serve upon all opposing parties, at least seven days prior to the scheduled trial or hearing, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 8](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0080/0250-0190-0010-0080.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### exhibit custody

Scope: courtwide

Every exhibit filed or offered in evidence remains in the clerk's custody unless the court orders a copy substituted or permits withdrawal.

Evidence excerpt: Every exhibit placed on file or offered in evidence shall be held in the custody of the clerk.

[Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 12](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0120/0250-0190-0010-0120.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-30


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://courts.mt.gov/external/supreme/docs/justicelist.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://courts.mt.gov/external/supreme/docs/justicelist.pdf)
- [Montana Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://courts.mt.gov/external/supreme/docs/justicelist.pdf)
- [Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 3](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0030/0250-0190-0010-0030.html)
- [Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 5](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0050/0250-0190-0010-0050.html)
- [Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 7](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0070/0250-0190-0010-0070.html)
- [Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 8](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0080/0250-0190-0010-0080.html)
- [Montana Code Annotated 2025, Uniform District Court Rule 12](https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0190/part_0010/section_0120/0250-0190-0010-0120.html)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- focusing on family reunification In December 2017, Governor Steve Bullock appointed Gustafson to the Montana Supreme Court to fill the seat of retiring Justice Mike Wheat
- In 2004, Gustafson was appointed by Governor Judy Martz as a District Judge for Montana’s 13th Judicial District
- managing partner at the law firm Graves, Toennis and Gustafson in Billings, Montana — 1996–2004
- held the role of a public defender in Rosebud County, Montana
- She has focused on evidence-based sentencing, child welfare, and improving Montana’s criminal justice system
- overseeing Yellowstone County, succeeding retiring District Judge Diane Barz

### Education

- University of Montana Law School in, graduating with honors — J.D. (1988)
- Ingrid G. Gustafson studied business marketing at Montana State University

### Additional information

- She ran unopposed in 2018 to complete the remainder of the term and won an eight-year term in 2022 against James Brown
- She was re-elected in 2004, 2006, and 2012
- During her tenure, she established Yellowstone County’s first felony drug court in 2011 and operated a pilot court for child dependency cases
- Began her legal career as a staff attorney for the Social Security Administration for two years before entering private practice in 1991
- She attended Montana State University on a skiing scholarship, majoring in Business Marketing, and graduated with honors in 1983
- After private practice, she served on the 13th Judicial District Court, where her work included drug treatment and child dependency initiatives
- handling a broad range of cases including state and federal criminal defense, personal injury, and domestic relations
- Justice Gustafson serves as Vice President of the Montana Judges Association and has participated in multiple judicial and policy committees, including the Montana Commission on Sentencing, the National Center for State Courts Evidence-Based Sentencing Judicial Peer Group, Montana’s Pre-Trial Advisory Committee, the Court Assessment Program, and the State Bar’s Fee Arbitration Committee
- Gustafson was a four-year varsity alpine ski racer, earning NCAA All-American honors and induction into the Montana State University Athletic Hall of Fame
- Throughout her career, Gustafson has handled nearly 20,000 cases, emphasizing impartiality, independence, and adherence to Montana’s Constitution and legal precedent