---
title: "Mike Wheat | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-wheat-5002"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-22"
---

# Mike Wheat

Montana Supreme Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Montana Supreme Court
- State: Montana
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Montana Supreme Court, 2010-present
- Mike Wheat (Michael E. Wheat) was an American jurist who held the role of an Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court from 2010 to 2017, appointed by Governor Brian Schweitzer to replace Justice John Warner
- In January 2010, Governor Brian Schweitzer appointed Wheat to fill Justice John Warner’s vacancy
- In 2008, he ran unsuccessfully for Montana Attorney General
- After law school, Wheat served as deputy county attorney in Butte, Montana (1978–1981) before opening a private law firm, Cok, Wheat & Kinzler, in Bozeman
- Mike Wheat is a former justice of the Montana Supreme Court

### Education

- His professional background includes legal practice, legislative service, and a J.D. from the University of Montana in 1978.

### Additional information

- He won the 2010 general election to complete the term and was re‐elected in 2014 with 59.1% of the vote, defeating challenger Lawrence VanDyke Wheat announced his retirement in July 2017, effective at the end of the year, and was succeeded by Ingrid Gustafson
- Practitioner, 2009-2009
- legis, 2009-2009
- He was elected to the Montana State Senate (2002–2005), chairing the Judiciary Committee in 2005.
- He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1969, fighting in the Vietnam War and earning the Purple Heart for combat wounds He obtained a B.A. in Political Science and a J.D. from the University of Montana in 1975 and 1978, respectively
- Born in Spokane, Washington, in 1947, Wheat was raised in California.
- Date of birth: 1947
- Birth place: Spokane

## 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

### argument selection

Scope: courtwide

Most cases are decided on the written briefs. The court schedules oral argument when it determines that further discussion is needed.

Evidence excerpt: The majority of cases before the Montana Supreme Court are decided based upon the written briefs submitted by the parties.

[Montana Supreme Court Oral Argument Schedule](https://courts.mt.gov/courts/supreme/Oral_Arguments/)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### argument time

Scope: courtwide

Oral argument time is set in the court's order and typically ranges from 20 to 40 minutes.

Evidence excerpt: The times typically range from 20 to 40 minutes and are set forth by the Court in the order setting oral argument.

[Montana Supreme Court Oral Argument Schedule](https://courts.mt.gov/courts/supreme/Oral_Arguments/)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### argument focus

Scope: courtwide

Use the limited argument time to develop points beyond the briefs and answer the court's questions on matters requiring clarification.

Evidence excerpt: this format allows the counsel brief opportunity to further develop their arguments, it also gives the Court an opportunity to ask questions of the attorneys on points which the Court needs clarification.

[Montana Supreme Court Oral Argument Schedule](https://courts.mt.gov/courts/supreme/Oral_Arguments/)
Source checked: 2026-07-30


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5002/mike-wheat/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5002/mike-wheat/)
- [Montana Supreme Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5002/mike-wheat/)
- [Montana Supreme Court Oral Argument Schedule](https://courts.mt.gov/courts/supreme/Oral_Arguments/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5002/mike-wheat/)
- [Wikidata: Mike Wheat](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16886527)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-wheat-5002",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-wheat-5002",
      "name": "Mike Wheat | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Mike Wheat, Montana Supreme Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-22",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-wheat-5002#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-wheat-5002#judge",
      "name": "Mike Wheat",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-wheat-5002",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Montana Supreme Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5002/mike-wheat/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1947",
      "birthPlace": "Spokane",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Montana"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Montana",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/montana"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Mike Wheat",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mike-wheat-5002"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```