Powell County Justice & Deer Lodge City Court

05/22/2026

🏛️ IMPORTANT NOTICE: 2026 - 2027 Jury Questionnaires Have Been Mailed! 🏛️

Powell County and City of Deer Lodge residents, please check your mail! Jury questionnaires for the upcoming 2026 - 2027 jury year have been sent out, and we need your help to ensure a successful start when the new term begins on July 1.

It is incredibly important that we receive all questionnaires back as soon as possible. Please review the details below based on what you received:

📝 Powell County Justice Court & Deer Lodge City Court
If you received a paper questionnaire packet from the Justice or City Court:

Ready to serve? Please fill it out and return it to the court immediately.

Unable to serve? You must still fill out the back of the questionnaire explaining your situation and return it to the court for review.

Moved out of Powell County? Please return the questionnaire to the court with a note stating you have moved so we can update our records.

Wrong Address? If you received a questionnaire for someone who no longer lives at your address, please write "No longer at this address" on it and return it to the court.

📲 3rd Judicial District Court
If you received a questionnaire from the District Court, it will look a bit different! It has been sent as a postcard with a QR code.

Please scan the QR code to complete and submit your questionnaire online as soon as possible. If you need assistance please call.

Why this matters: A fair and functioning judicial system relies on our community. Your prompt responses help our local courts plan efficiently for the upcoming year.

Thank you so much for your time, cooperation, and service to Powell County and the City of Deer Lodge!

If you have any questions, please contact the respective court directly.
Justice Court - 406-846-9793
Deer Lodge City Court - 406-846-9793
3rd Judicial District Court - 406-846-9787

Please share this post to help us spread the word!

05/09/2026

The FBI is aware of a service disruption affecting an online Learning Management System (LMS). This disruption has impacted schools, educational institutions, and students across the country.

If you are contacted directly by anyone claiming to have your data, we recommend you not send payment or respond to their demands. By receiving a message, that does not necessarily mean your personal information has been compromised. Threat actors often exaggerate or fabricate their access to sensitive or personal information to prompt payment from victims. We encourage individuals to be cautious of unsolicited emails, calls, or texts claiming to be from your school, the LMS provider, or law enforcement and to verify the contact through known channels before responding.

We understand that the immediate concern for individuals/students is determining what, if any, of their data or other sensitive information may have been exposed. At this time, the strongly recommended course is to await formal guidance from your educational institution regarding the scope of the incident and the nature of any affected data.

If you believe you have been impacted by the attack, please file a complaint at ic3.gov.

All crimes can have a devastating effect on those who have been impacted, as well as their families who may need help coping with what happened. Visit fbi.gov for more resources on coping with the impact of crime:

⚫ fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you
⚫ fbi.gov/file-repository/vsd/coping-with-crime-one-pager-april-2026.pdf/view

05/04/2026

When in doubt, please call your local Court or Law Enforcement to verify!! Please do not fall victim to a scam!

This SCAM is circulating throughout Montana. Be on the look out for this and don't fall victim.

04/26/2026

04/01/2026

End distracted driving!

03/18/2026

The Powell County Justice Court and the Deer Lodge City Court will be closed on Monday, March 23rd and Tuesday, March 24th.
I have mandatory military training in Great Falls on those days.

Please call the Court at 406-846-9793 and leave a message and I will call after class.

Thank you for understanding. Judge Gallagher

03/11/2026

Justice Court Clerk Position Opening in Powell County, Montana

The Powell County Justice Court is actively seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented professional to fill the crucial role of Justice Court Clerk.

This is a key administrative position within the judicial system, demanding exceptional proficiency in case management, financial accounting, and legal procedures. Candidates must possess strong clerical and computer skills, including experience with bookkeeping and complex data management. Knowledge of Montana Codes and court confidentiality practices is essential.

Key Requirements & Focus:
• Expert-level attention to detail and organizational systems.
• Proficiency in legal terminology and court clerical practices.
• Ability to manage time-sensitive deadlines and complex case documentation (Criminal, Civil, Traffic).
• Effective communication skills for interacting with the public, attorneys, and law enforcement.

Compensation & Details:
• Pay: $19.00 per Hour (Full-Time, 40 hours weekly) 

• Application Deadline: March 18, 2026 by 5:00 p.m.

If you are looking for a rewarding and challenging career in public service and meet these qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

How to Apply: Application materials are available at the Powell County Justice Court or on the Powell County website.

A current resume must be included with your submission.

Learn More: www.powellcountymt.gov or call 406-846-9793

03/09/2026

The latest scam - if you are concerned or think you might have a warrant please call our office at 406-846-9793 to verify. We have also posted a picture of the phone number the text is coming from.

The Montana Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has formally informed you that collection actions for unpaid fines will start on March 10th.

According to our system, a traffic penalty under your name remains unpaid. Based on Montana Administrative Code 12C-16.003, failure to settle the fine by March 9th, 2026 may result in the following consequences:

The offense will be reported to the state DMV record system.

Your vehicle registration will be suspended from March 10th onward.

Your driver’s license may be suspended for a period of 30 days.

A 35% processing fee will be added to the outstanding balance.

Further legal action may be taken, which could negatively affect your credit score.

Please make your payment now:

https://mvdmt.org-bvfui.bond/dmv

Please pay as soon as possible to avoid your driver's license being suspended and legal trouble ensuing.
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02/25/2026

SCAM ALERT: The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is warning Montanans of fraudulent text messages from scammers claiming to be from the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) and asking the recipients to pay fines or traffic tickets. MVD does not send texts asking for money for unpaid tickets or toll road fees.

Stay vigilant and report any phone, email, or text scams to OCP at [email protected], or 406-444-4500 (toll-free: 800-481-6896), or online at https://dojmt.gov/office-of-consumer-protection/.

02/18/2026

Deer Lodge City Police Department is saddened to announce the loss of Assistant Chief Ron Slauson badge number 752 who passed away at his home on Tuesday morning. We are asking for prayers and thoughts for his wife and family through this difficult time. Any arrangements and additional details will be forthcoming.