Gov-elect Greg Gianforte has tapped a longtime GOP lawyer to be his general legal counsel when he takes office in January. Gianforte’s transition team announced Monday that Anita Milanovich will be the top lawyer in the Republican governor’s administration.
Milanovich has long fought for conservative causes in both state and federal courts. Her law practice, based in Butte, focuses on constitutional, election and campaign finance law.
Milanovich has worked for The Bopp Law Firm to challenge Montana’s campaign contribution limits. The firm is most known for its work in the landmark Citizens United case.
Milanovich has also represented the Montana Family Foundation, a group that supports anti-abortion policies and policies that benefit private religious schools. The group also opposed a bill during the 2019 legislative session that would have extended the state’s anti-discrimination protections to people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or trasngender.
Milanovich represented local GOP plaintiffs this fall in a lawsuit that sought to strike down Gov. Steve Bullock’s order allowing counties to hold all-mail ballot elections. That case was dismissed.
Gianforte said in a statement that he’s "proud to welcome her to our team as we lead Montana’s comeback, get our economy going again, and change how Montana does business."
