High court to review possible conflict of interest

Associated Press - July 20, 2008 12:24 PM ET GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - A dispute between Cascade County's chief prosecutor and its longest-serving judge is before the state Supreme Court. County Attorney Brant Light wants the court to rule on what Light believes is the appearance of a conflict of interest between Cascade County District Judge Thomas McKittrick and the judge's son, Matthew McKittrick. The younger McKittrick supervises public defense attorneys in the region, including those who represent defendants in his father's courtroom. Light said the disagreement has not affected his professional relationship with the McKittricks, although the petition says the professional relationship between Light's office and the judge has deteriorated somewhat. Information from: Great Falls Tribune,... [read full story]