BILLINGS — A judge from Billings will become the new chief judge of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals starting Dec. 1.
Sidney R. Thomas has sat on more than 10,000 cases since he became a federal appeals court judge in 1996.
Thomas graduated from University of Montana law school in 1978 and Montana State University in 1975. He was a private practice attorney from 1978 to 1995.
The seven-year position of chief justice goes to the circuit judge who has the most seniority, has not previously served as chief judge and is younger than 65.
Thomas tells The Billings Gazette he hopes to bring Montana values of common sense and collegiality to the job.
The 9th Circuit includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii.