Missoula Muni Court judge announces retirement after 10 years

Missoula Municipal Court Judge Kathleen Jenks has announced her plans to retire at the end of her term on Dec. 31, 2021.

Judge Jenks has served as a judge for 10 years and has been elected twice. She said she's looking forward to traveling and enjoying her hobbies in retirement.

Jenks said she's proud of all the changes she's seen in the courtroom, from updating the sentencing process to digitizing records and going virtually paperless.

For the future, she hopes that all incoming elected judges will be able to work together and that things get easier with COVID-19.

Jenks said she's thankful for the community's trust and recounted one of her favorite memories.

"The first time I was sworn in - Judge McLean swore me in and said a few words afterward about always remembering that the people in front of us are somebody's family member - they could be our family member, they could be us - and they should be treated with respect. I've really tried to do that."

Jenks will serve as a judge until her term ends in December when she said she expects to shed some tears. She's announcing the decision early so other candidates have a chance to file to run for the position.