Brian Morris

Brian Matthew Morris (born September 5, 1963) is an American attorney who serves as the chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana. He is a former justice of the Montana Supreme Court, having been elected in 2004. Morris successfully retained his position in the 2012 election. He is also a former fullback for the Stanford Cardinal football team.

Early life and education

Born in Butte, Montana, As a senior in the 1981–1982 academic year, he led the football team to the 1981 state championship game

Earning a scholarship to Stanford University, Morris was a four-year letterman on the Stanford Cardinal football team and was the team's starting fullback in the 1986 Gator Bowl. In his junior and senior years, he was honorable mention all-Pacific-10 Conference and first team all-academic Pac-10. Morris earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in 1987.

In 1995, he joined the Iran – United States Claims Tribunal at the World Court, The Hague, Netherlands, to be a legal assistant. Returning to Montana, Morris was in private practice in Bozeman from 1995 until 1999. He went on to be a legal officer at the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva, Switzerland. On May 23, 2013, President Obama formally nominated Morris to the judgeship. His nomination was reported to the floor by the United States Senate Judiciary Committee on September 19, 2013. Cloture was invoked on December 12, 2013 by a 57–40 vote. He was confirmed later that day by a 75–20 vote. He received his judicial commission on December 17, 2013. The inability to review cases created a significant backlog. Susan P. Watters was confirmed shortly after Morris for the Billings location.

Notable rulings

State court

In 2009, Morris wrote the 6–1 decision in Kulstad v. Maniaci, in which the Court ruled in favor of a woman's right to joint custody rights of two children adopted by her same-sex partner during their relationship.

In 2010, he wrote the 4–1 decision in Wilson v. Montana that denying an inmate the use of a particular psychiatric medication did not violate the criminal's rights.

Federal court

Indigenous Environmental Network and North Coast River Alliance, and Northern Plains Resource Council vs. United States Department of State and TransCanada Keystone Pipeline and TransCanada Corporation

In November 2018 Morris issued an order to stop the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline so that further research could be done on its environmental effects. An appeal of this order was dismissed as moot and the Order was vacated by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals with instructions to dismiss the district court actions.

Bullock, et al. v. IRS In July 2019 Morris issued an order overturning a rule issued by the Internal Revenue Service that allowed 501(c)(4) "social-welfare" organizations to shield the identities of their political donors. Subsequently the IRS has ended the reporting requirements for non-501(c)(3) organizations.

Personal life

Morris and his wife, Cherche Prezeau, have three sons and one daughter.