The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices this week found Republican attorney general candidate challenging Austin Knudsen in the primary race was not qualified to run.Â
In a 25-page decision signed Wednesday, Commissioner Chris Gallus noted some conflicting evidence about whether Daniels County Attorney Logan Olson had acted deceptively in signing elections paperwork declaring his eligibility.Â
The office for the commissioner of political practices in Helena.
In question was whether Olson had actively practiced law for five years, the length of time required to run for the attorney general. Gallus found Olson had not, but otherwise dismissed the complaint without sending the matter to a prosecutor or levying a fine.Â
Montana Democratic Party executive director Sheila Hogan last month filed a complaint with the commissioner alleging Olson had not actively practiced law for at least five years prior to the date of this year’s general election.Â
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Olson had argued he did qualify for the office because he was admitted to practice law under the Student Practice Rule in September 2019. Gallus’ finding, however, said “active practice” meant active and continuous work on legal services; Olson had done about 300 hours of law work in his final year in law school before he was admitted to the State Bar of Montana in 2020.Â
Attorney General Austin Knudsen speaks at a press conference outlining legislative priorities at a Montana Highway Patrol shop in Helena on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
The complaint against Olson was tied to another case that Hogan filed against Knudsen, alleging he recruited Olson in order to have a primary
