Hon. Dirk Sandefur (Ret.) Hon. Julie Sandefur (Ret.)

Dirk is a retired Montana Judge with over 30 years of experience in the legal system as a lawyer and judge. He most recently served for 8 years as a Montana Supreme Court Justice, after serving for 14 years as a State District Judge in the Montana Eighth Judicial District Court in Great Falls and Cascade County, Montana, one of Montana's busiest judicial districts.

Julie (f/k/a Julie Macek) is a retired Montana judge with over 40 years of experience in the legal system as a lawyer and judge. She most recently served for 16 years as a State District Judge in the Montana Eighth Judicial District Court in Great Falls and Cascade County, Montana.

Drawing from their extensive legal expertise, understanding of conflict resolution, and experience as neutral third parties, Julie and her husband Dirk now serve in tandem as co-mediators to assist individuals, businesses, and organizations in mutually resolving their disputes through informal mediation.

As an alternative to traditional litigation, mediation helps parties resolve disputes in a more collaborative, cost-effective, timely, and satisfactory manner. Whether you're dealing with family, business, or community disputes, our mediation services provide a neutral environment where open dialogue and creative solutions can flourish.

Hon. Dirk Sandefur (Ret.)

• Accredited Mediator, National Judicial College Civil Mediation Course (40 hours), 2024
• University of Montana Law School, Missoula, MT, Juris Doctor With High Honors, 1993 (3rd of 75), West Publishing Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement
• University of Montana, B.Sc. With Honors, Computer Science, 1985
• Montana Law Enforcement Academy, MT Dept. of Justice, 1988
• Great Falls High School, 1980, National Honor Society

Hon. Julie Sandefur (Ret.)

• Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon, Juris Doctor, 1985
• Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, B.Sc. With Honors, Sociology, 1981
• Charles M. Russell High School, Great Falls, MT, 1977, National Honor Society

Hon. Dirk Sandefur (Ret.)

• Montana Supreme Court Standing Masters Rules Committee, 2019-21
• Montana Judges Association (including service as President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer)
• Montana Supreme Court Rules of Civil Procedure Committee, 2010-11
• Montana District Court Council, 2014-16
• Montana Bar Association, 1993-Date
• Cascade County Bar Association, 1993-Date
• Admitted To Practice in Montana & U.S. District Court (Mont.), 1993

Hon. Julie Sandefur (Ret.)

• Montana Supreme Court Criminal Jury Instructions Committee, 2014-15
• Montana Judges Association (including service on Judicial Education Committee)
• Montana Bar Association (including service on Cont. Legal Education Committee)
• Cascade County Bar Association, 1985-Present
• Admitted to Practice in Montana and U.S. District Court (Mont.), 1985
• Admitted to Practice in U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1989

Our base mediation fee is $350 per hour for the co-mediation team. For personal onsite mediations add $150 per hour for travel between our Swan Lake, MT, base and the mediation site, and reasonable ancillary expenses.