About Ed Sheehy
I have been an experienced courtroom attorney in Montana for 33 years
The breadth of my experience; and my knowledge of the law, legal procedures, and the legal system all have led me to seek election as a Justice on the Montana Supreme Court. I am running for the seat that Justice James Nelson will vacate at the end of 2012 upon his retirement.
During this time I have handled almost every type of legal case possible, including representing plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases, guardianship proceedings, probates, representing husbands, wives and children in family law cases, administrative proceedings, criminal cases and appeals to the Montana Supreme Court. Due to the breadth of my experience and knowledge of the law, legal procedures, and the legal system I have decided to seek election as a Justice on the Montana Supreme Court.
In my opinion the Montana Supreme Court is the ultimate source of justice for every individual, corporation and business in Montana, as well as for the government itself. Justice is what our legal system is, has been, and always should be about. I believe that for all of us, the law is what is fair, right, and just. My goal when elected will be to strive to achieve justice in every case brought before the Court. I sincerely value and appreciate you support.
I believe the Montana Supreme Court is the last place where justice can be obtained. Justice is what our legal system is, has been, and always should be about. My goal would be to try to do justice in each and every case
Ed was born in Butte, Montana in 1952, the son of Butte natives and the grandson of Irish immigrants. He was raised in Butte until he was 11 years old when his father’s position with the U. S. Postal Service required moving the family to Washington and then Oregon. He graduated from High School in Pendleton, Oregon in 1970, and then attended Carroll College in Helena, Montana, where he received a degree in Political Science in 1974.During this time I have handled almost every type of legal case possible, including representing plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases, guardianship proceedings, probates, representing husbands, wives and children in family law cases, administrative proceedings, criminal cases and appeals to the Montana Supreme Court. Due to the breadth of my experience and knowledge of the law, legal procedures, and the legal system I have decided to seek election as a Justice on the Montana Supreme Court.
In my opinion the Montana Supreme Court is the ultimate source of justice for every individual, corporation and business in Montana, as well as for the government itself. Justice is what our legal system is, has been, and always should be about. I believe that for all of us, the law is what is fair, right, and just. My goal when elected will be to strive to achieve justice in every case brought before the Court. I sincerely value and appreciate you support.
I believe the Montana Supreme Court is the last place where justice can be obtained. Justice is what our legal system is, has been, and always should be about. My goal would be to try to do justice in each and every case
He attended Gonzaga School of Law in Spokane, Washington, graduating in 1978. He was given permission to take the Montana bar exam in the fall of his third year; however, he couldn't be admitted to the Montana Bar until he graduated from law school. He was a law clerk for former Chief Justice Frank Haswell for the calendar year of 1978. When Justice Haswell was appointed Chief Justice in 1978, Ed's uncle, John C. Sheehy was appointed to take Justice Haswell's position on the Court. On June 5, 1978, Justice John C. Sheehy moved Ed's admission to the Montana Bar. He was the first of his generation of Sheehy’s to become an attorney, followed by his cousins Anne, Pat, and Martha.
Ed went to work for Ross Cannon in Helena in January 1979. They formed the law firm of Cannon and Sheehy and were in private practice together for almost 28 years with offices in Helena, Missoula, and Browning. Ed's private practice involved almost every aspect of law. He lobbied the legislature and handled administrative cases in front of state agencies. He served on the Medical Legal Review Panels for several matters .He represented plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases, in federal and state courts. He did domestic work, probates, and class actions. He worked as a public defender and private criminal defense in federal, state, and tribal courts. He handled cases, for lawyers, in front of the Commission on Practice. He has represented lawyers and doctors, both in civil cases and criminal cases He has tried civil and criminal cases in almost every judicial district in Montana and has probably handled more appeals, both civil and criminal, than most attorneys in Montana.
In 2004, Ed represented Montana federal retirees, led by his father, Ed Sheehy, Sr., a retired federal employee, in a suit claiming that the State of Montana illegally collected state income tax for 5 years on federal retirees. It was through his efforts that the U. S. Supreme Court issued a writ of certiorari, resulting, in all federal retirees being given a refund of 5 years of state income taxes.
Due to his extensive trial work and public service, Ed was hired by the Montana Office of Public Defender in July, 2006. For the last 5 and ½ years, he has continued handling jury trials across Montana.
In September of 2007, Ed was awarded the George L. Bousliman Professionalism Award by the State of Montana for establishing a reputation and tradition of professionalism in the practice of law.
Ed is married to Donna McConnaha Sheehy. Donna is a third generation native of Anaconda, Montana. They met in college while competing on rival speech teams. He competed on the Carroll College Speech Team while Donna competed for the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology speech team. They have been married for almost 34 years. They adopted 2 sons from South Korea, William (Min), who is a sophomore at the University of Montana studying political science and international relations, and Connor (CJ) attending the Missoula College of Technology. They lived in Helena from 1978 to 1990, and then moved to Missoula when Donna took a position in the Region One Regional Office of the Forest Service. Donna recently retired as a civil engineer after 37 years of public service having worked on the Deerlodge National Forest, the Helena National Forest, and the Regional Office in Missoula.
