NW Valley Times

Arizona Supreme Court Justice William Montgomery shared insights on ethics and faith in law during a talk at Grand Canyon University as part of the T.W. Lewis Speaker Series. The event took place at the Colangelo College of Business, with students in attendance engaging with Justice Montgomery on his experiences and views.

Reflecting on his career, Montgomery stated, "It's not about winning or losing a case, but that justice has been done in every case." He discussed his time as a prosecutor and the perceived stereotype of prosecutors as eager to sentence individuals to prison. "And sincerely, I used to love opportunities to give somebody a second chance," said Montgomery.

He recounted a significant case involving a woman charged with methamphetamines possession. Instead of facing a long jail sentence, she was given a chance to rehabilitate. A year later, Montgomery received updates showing her progress, including reuniting with her child and excelling academically. "She's married," Montgomery explained, highlighting her subsequent work within faith-based substance abuse recovery.

A West Point graduate and veteran of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Montgomery shared his faith background as a Catholic and its influence on his career path. "I've always been mindful that, as Jesus told His disciples, that if you deny Me before man, I will not acknowledge you before My Father," Montgomery stated, reflecting on his journey to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Appointed to the court by former Governor Doug Ducey, Montgomery acknowledged the unexpected nature of his position. "The short answer is, I never expected to be where I'm at today," he remarked. As a justice, he emphasized the importance of setting personal preferences aside and applying the law as written.

Responding to a student's question regarding legal ethics, Montgomery advised, "Do your job ethically. Do your job in a way that one day you can look God in the eye and say, ‘I did the best job I could fulfilling the vocation you called me to.’"

On the subject of artificial intelligence in law, Montgomery observed potential impacts on the legal profession, referring to AI as "assistive intelligence." He noted, "There's always going to be a need for entry-level lawyers to do grunt work and to do document review and check."

The next session of the T.W. Lewis Speaker Series is scheduled for April 7, featuring speakers John Mullen and Dean Wilson of the Turner Foundation.

For further information, GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected].