You’ve probably seen the name pop up in local headlines or heard it whispered in the halls of the Yellowstone County Courthouse. Honestly, the story of Ashley Harada Billings MT is a lot messier than a simple campaign bio might suggest. It’s a mix of a rapid ascent to power, a massive ethical firestorm, and a community that is still pretty divided on whether she belongs in Department 8.
Most folks in Billings know her as the District Court Judge who took office in 2019. But the path she took to get there—and the drama that followed—is kinda wild.
The 125-Vote Cliffhanger
Back in 2018, the race for the 13th Judicial District was anything but a landslide. It was a nail-biter. Ashley Harada was running against Juli Pierce, and the final tally was so close it triggered a recount.
Basically, Harada won by a mere 125 votes.
In a county with over 150,000 people, that’s a razor-thin margin. It set the stage for a judicial term that was under the microscope from day one. You don't just walk into a job like that after such a tight race and expect everyone to be happy.
She wasn't a newcomer to the law, though. Before the robe, she was a solo practitioner running the Harada Law Firm. She also spent about a decade as a staff attorney and law clerk for federal judges in Montana. On paper, she had the resume. But the transition from the "law clerk" side of the desk to the "judge" side of the bench was where things started to get really complicated.
What Actually Happened with the Judicial Standards Commission?
If you search for Ashley Harada Billings MT, you’re going to find a lot of legal jargon about the Montana Supreme Court and the Judicial Standards Commission.
Here is the plain-English version.
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In 2020, Judge Harada was hit with a formal complaint involving six counts of misconduct. We aren't talking about minor paperwork errors here. The allegations were serious enough that the Montana Supreme Court eventually stepped in and did something they don't do often: they overruled the commission’s suggested punishment.
The commission initially recommended a public censure—basically a formal "don't do that again" letter. The Supreme Court said, "No, that’s not enough."
The "Nanny" Situation and the Admissions
One of the weirdest parts of the whole ordeal involved a former employee who worked as a nanny and office assistant for Harada. The complaint alleged that Harada made false statements to the University of Montana School of Law to try and block this person from getting in.
Why? Because of a personal grievance.
When you’re a judge, your word is supposed to be your bond. So, when it came out that she had also reportedly lied under oath during a deposition about whether this person actually worked for her (and whether the taxes were handled correctly), it created a huge credibility gap.
Campaign Missteps or Intentional Deception?
The counts didn't stop there. The court documents show Harada admitted to several other violations:
- Partisan Endorsements: In Montana, judicial races are nonpartisan. Harada admitted to endorsing Republican candidates on social media, which is a big no-no for a sitting judge or candidate.
- Exaggerating Experience: During the campaign, she claimed credit for approximately 80 jury trials. The investigation found she hadn't actually tried those cases as an attorney; she had attended them while serving as a law clerk.
- Illegal Contributions: There was a bit of a mess involving a campaign contribution from her own law firm that was improperly attributed.
In April 2020, the Montana Supreme Court suspended her for 30 days without pay. Chief Justice Mike McGrath didn't mince words, stating that her actions showed a "flagrant disregard" for the rules.
The Local Divide: Grace vs. Accountability
Now, if you talk to people in Billings, you'll get two very different versions of who Ashley Harada is.
On one side, you have local attorneys and community members who wrote letters of support during her disciplinary hearing. They see her as a compassionate judge who genuinely cares about families. She helped start a pilot program to speed up dependency and neglect cases, aiming to get kids back with their parents faster. For many, she represents a "tough on crime" but "fair on families" approach that resonates with conservative voters in Yellowstone County.
On the flip side?
There is a segment of the Billings legal community that hasn't forgotten the "swearing-in" snub. When Harada was first sworn in, most of the other sitting judges reportedly didn't show up. That’s almost unheard of. To her critics, the ethical lapses weren't just "first-time candidate mistakes"—they were a pattern of dishonesty that undermines the entire 13th Judicial District.
Where Things Stand Now
Fast forward to late 2024 and early 2026. The political landscape in Billings remains as charged as ever. Judge Harada ran for retention in November 2024, and despite the past controversies, she secured a significant majority of the vote.
About 73% of voters chose to keep her on the bench.
This tells us something important about the Ashley Harada Billings MT narrative: the voters and the "legal elite" don't always see eye-to-eye. While the Supreme Court was busy suspending her, a huge chunk of the local population was looking at her rulings in the courtroom and deciding they liked what they saw.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the Legal System
If you find yourself in Department 8 or are just following the local judiciary, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Check the Dockets: If you want to know how a judge is actually performing, don't just read the news headlines. Look at the public dockets for the 13th Judicial District. You can see how quickly cases are moving through Department 8.
- Understand Retention: In Montana, after a judge wins their first contested election, they eventually face a "retention" election. This is a simple Yes/No vote. It is the public's primary tool for judicial accountability.
- Know the Rules of Conduct: The Montana Code of Judicial Conduct is public. If you ever feel a judge (any judge) is acting with bias or participating in partisan politics, you have the right to file a grievance with the Judicial Standards Commission.
- Follow the "Pilot Programs": Harada has been vocal about reforms in the foster care and dependency system. If you are involved in a family law case in Yellowstone County, ask your attorney how these expedited programs might affect your timeline.
The story of Ashley Harada isn't over. It’s a case study in how a person can be simultaneously a symbol of reform and a lightning rod for controversy. Whether you view her as a judge who learned from her mistakes or someone who shouldn't have been there in the first place, her impact on the Billings legal landscape is undeniable.
Stay informed by checking the latest filings at the Yellowstone County Courthouse or following the Montana Supreme Court’s public orders regarding judicial conduct. Monitoring these primary sources is the only way to separate the political noise from the legal reality.