Paul Gerhart Hatfield
| Paul Gerhart Hatfield | |
|---|---|
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana | |
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In office May 10, 1979 – February 9, 1996 |
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| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Russell Evans Smith |
| Succeeded by | Donald W. Molloy |
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United States Senator from Montana |
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In office January 22, 1978 – December 14, 1978 |
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| Appointed by | Thomas Lee Judge |
| Preceded by | Lee Metcalf |
| Succeeded by | Max Baucus |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 29, 1928 Great Falls, Montana |
| Died | July 3, 2000 (aged 72) Great Falls, Montana |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater |
College of Great Falls University of Montana |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1951–1953 |
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 was later a United States federal judge.
Born in Great Falls, Montana, he attended the College of Great Falls (now University of Great Falls) and served in the United States Army, Signal Corps, 181st Signal Depot Company, from 1951 to 1953. He received an LL.B. from University of Montana Law School, Missoula, Montana in 1955, and was admitted to the Montana bar that same year, commencing his practice in Great Falls.
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. He served until he was appointed to the US Senate on January 22, 1978.
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.
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