Trump Nominates Montana Rep. Bill Mercer to Federal District Court

WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump announced Thursday his nomination of Montana Rep. Bill Mercer to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Montana.

Trump announced the nomination on Truth Social, calling it his “Great Honor” to nominate William W. Mercer to the federal bench.

“Bill has TREMENDOUS experience, previously serving at the Department of Justice and, as United States Attorney for the District of Montana,” Trump wrote. “He is STRONG and SMART, will fearlessly uphold the Rule of Law, and defend our Constitution on the Federal Bench. Congratulations Bill!”

Mercer served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana from 2001 to 2009 and also held the position of Acting United States Associate Attorney General from 2006 to 2007, the third-highest position in the Department of Justice. He currently serves as a Montana state legislator representing the 46th district since 2019 and is a partner at Holland & Hart LLP in Billings.

Montana House Speaker Brandon Ler congratulated Mercer on the nomination in a statement released Thursday.

“Representative Mercer’s integrity, legal expertise, and extensive public service make him exceptionally qualified for the federal judiciary,” Ler said, according to the press release. The Speaker thanked President Trump for the nomination, noting its significance for both Mercer and Montana.

“Bill’s experience at the DOJ as U.S. Attorney for MT & his fierce advocacy for the rule of law & original interpretation of the Constitution will be tremendous assets as he serves the country & the people of MT on the federal bench,” Daines wrote in a post on X. “We’ll work diligently with Senate leadership & our colleagues to confirm Bill’s nomination.”

The nomination now moves to the United States Senate for confirmation proceedings.

Mercer’s nomination comes as Trump continues to fill federal judicial positions across the country during his presidency. The U.S. District Court for the District of Montana handles federal cases throughout the state, including matters involving federal law, constitutional issues, and disputes between parties from different states.

As a current Montana state legislator, Mercer serves on the House Appropriations Committee. During his tenure as U.S. Attorney, he helped create Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative to combat child sexual exploitation.

The confirmation process will require Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and ultimately a full Senate vote before Mercer can take his seat on the federal bench.