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Judge Molloy to Retire From Active Service in 2011

By Beacon Staff

BILLINGS – U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy says he plans to retire from active service next year.

The 64-year-old Missoula judge announced Wednesday that he would take senior status in August, meaning he will continue to hear cases.

Molloy has written some of the more controversial court rulings in the state during his 14 years on the bench, most recently placing wolves in Montana and Idaho back on the endangered species list.

Molloy has also blocked Montana and other states from opting out of federal gun laws, halted logging sales and declared a U.S. Forest Service plan for dropping retardant on fires illegal

The Billings Gazette reports that U.S. Sen. Max Baucus has named a committee to search for Molloy’s replacement.