Below are tables showing authorized positions for U.S. district judges, U.S. bankruptcy judges, and U.S. magistrate judges. While district and bankruptcy judgeships are authorized by congressional statute, magistrate judgeships are authorized by the Judicial Conference of the United States. For more detail regarding the authorization of these judgeships, see the Legislative History and Succession Chart(s) pages for each district court (see menu at right), Authorized Bankruptcy Judgeships, Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by location), and Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by fiscal year).
Authorized District Judgeships |
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| February 22, 1889 (effective November 8, 1889) 25 Stat. 676 |
1 |
| September 14, 1922 42 Stat. 837 |
2 |
| July 10, 1984 98 Stat. 333 |
3 |
Authorized Bankruptcy Judgeships |
|
| July 10, 1984 98 Stat. 336 |
1 |
Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by location) |
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| Location | Full-Time | Part-Time |
| Billings | 1 (1983–present) | 1 (1971–1982) |
| Bozeman | 1 (1974–1984) | |
| Butte | 1 (1971–1984) 0 (1985–1986) 1 (1987–1991) |
|
| Cut Bank | 1 (1971–1991) | |
| Glasgow | 1 (1971–1989) | |
| Great Falls | 1 (1988–present) | 1 (1971–1987) |
| Hardin | 1 (1971–1975) 0 (1976) 1 (1977–1980) |
|
| Helena | 1 (1971–1991) | |
| Helena or Missoula | 1 (1992–present) | |
| Kalispell | 1 (1971–1991) | |
| Miles City | 1 (1971–1982) | |
| Missoula | 1 (1971–1991) | |
| Wolf Point | 1 (1971–2014) | |
| Total | 0 (1971–1982) 1 (1983–1987) 2 (1988–1991) 3 (1992–present) |
11 (1971–1973) 12 (1974–1975) 11 (1976) 12 (1977–1980) 11 (1981–1982) 9 (1983–1984) 7 (1985–1986) 8 (1987) 7 (1988–1989) 6 (1990–1991) 1 (1992–2014) 0 (2015–present) |
Authorized Magistrate Judgeships (by fiscal year) |
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| Fiscal Year(s) | Full-Time | Total | Part-Time | Total |
| 1971–1973 | 0 | Billings, Butte, Cut Bank, Glasgow, Great Falls, Hardin, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, Wolf Point | 11 | |
| 1974–1975 | 0 | Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Cut Bank, Glasgow, Great Falls, Hardin, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, Wolf Point | 12 | |
| 1976 | 0 | Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Cut Bank, Glasgow, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, Wolf Point | 11 | |
| 1977–1980 | 0 | Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Cut Bank, Glasgow, Great Falls, Hardin, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, Wolf Point | 12 | |
| 1981–1982 | 0 | Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Cut Bank, Glasgow, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City, Missoula, Wolf Point | 11 | |
| 1983–1984 | Billings | 1 | Bozeman, Butte, Cut Bank, Glasgow, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Wolf Point | 9 |
| 1985–1986 | Billings | 1 | Cut Bank, Glasgow, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Wolf Point | 7 |
| 1987 | Billings | 1 | Butte, Cut Bank, Glasgow, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Wolf Point | 8 |
| 1988–1989 | Billings, Great Falls | 2 | Butte, Cut Bank, Glasgow, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Wolf Point | 7 |
| 1990–1991 | Billings, Great Falls | 2 | Butte, Cut Bank, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Wolf Point | 6 |
| 1992–2014 | Billings, Great Falls, Helena or Missoula | 3 | Wolf Point | 1 |
| 2015–present | Billings, Great Falls, Helena or Missoula | 3 | 0 | |