William W. Mercer

Bill Mercer
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 6, 2025
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded byDana L. Christensen
Acting United States Associate Attorney General
In office
March 17, 2006 – June 22, 2007
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byRobert McCallum Jr.
Succeeded byGregory G. Katsas (acting)
United States Attorney for the District of Montana
In office
April 20, 2001 – December 30, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded bySherry Scheel Matteucci
Succeeded byMichael W. Cotter
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 52nd district
In office
January 6, 2025 – November 10, 2025
Preceded bySherry Essmann (redistricting)
Succeeded byStacy Zinn
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 46th district
In office
January 7, 2019 – January 6, 2025
Preceded byDon Jones
Succeeded byDenise Joy (redistricting)
Personal details
Born1964 (age 61–62)
Billings, Montana, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpouseMarci Mercer
Children2
EducationUniversity of Montana (BA)
Harvard University (MPA)
George Mason University (JD)

William Walter "Bill" Mercer (born 1964) is an American attorney and politician serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana. He served as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025.[1] He previously served as the United States attorney for the District of Montana, as well as principal associate deputy attorney general for the United States Department of Justice.[2] Mercer was nominated by President George W. Bush as Associate Attorney General and served in the position in an acting capacity. He resigned before his confirmation hearing could take place.[3]

Early life and education

Mercer was born in Billings, Montana. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Montana in 1986, a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1988 and a Juris Doctor from George Mason University Law School (now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 1993.[1][4][5][6]

Career

From 1994 to April 2001, Mercer served as an assistant United States attorney for the District of Montana. On April 20, 2001, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the United States attorney for the District of Montana.[7][8]

While remaining as the U.S. attorney, Mercer served as principal associate deputy attorney general in the United States Department of Justice from 2005 to 2006.[1] He later served as the acting United States Associate Attorney General starting in 2006, though resigned on June 22, 2007, in light of the 2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys by the Bush administration.[3]

During his tenure as U.S. attorney, he helped create Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative which actively combats technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and child pornography.[9] The project continues to coordinate with local, state, tribal, and non-governmental agencies and organizations to protect the safety and well-being of American children.[10]

In 2010, Mercer joined the law firm of Holland and Hart[11] as of counsel in Billings and became a partner in 2014.[6] He focused on regulatory law, environmental law, and white collar criminal defense and often represented clients being investigated or prosecuted by government agencies.[12]

Electoral and legislative history

Mercer first announced his candidacy to the Montana House of Representatives in 2018 to succeed fellow Republican Don Jones, who did not seek reelection. He won the 2018 general election with 59.2% of the vote.[13] In 2020, he successfully won his reelection bid, receiving 67.7% of the vote in the general election.[14] He was elected a third term in 2022.[15] He was reelected to a fourth term in 2024 to represent the 52nd district.[16]

In the Montana House of Representatives, Mercer chaired the House Judicial Committee, Law Enforcement and Justice Committee, and served as a member on the House Appropriations Committee.[17]

Mercer resigned from the Montana House on November 10, 2025, after being confirmed as a federal judge.[18]

Federal judicial service

On July 10, 2025, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Mercer to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Montana, to a seat being vacated by Judge Dana L. Christensen.[19] His nomination was sent to the United States Senate on July 15, 2025.[20] On July 30, 2025, a hearing was held on his nomination by the Senate Judiciary Committee.[21] On September 11, 2025, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report his nomination to the full Senate by a 12–10 vote.[22] On October 21, 2025, the U.S. Senate voted to invoke cloture on his nomination by a 53–46 vote.[23] The following day, the Senate voted to confirm his nomination by a 52–45 vote.[24] He received his judicial commission on November 6, 2025.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021". Montana State Legislature. Montana Legislative Services Division. p. 51. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey announces Appointment of Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General" (Press release). United States Department of Justice. 2005-05-09. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  3. ^ a b Schmitt, Richard (20 July 2008). "One man's charmed life at Justice". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  4. ^ justfacts.votesmart.org Retrieved September 2, 2020
  5. ^ Mercer, William Walter (July 30, 2025). "Mercer's Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire" (PDF). judiciary.senate.gov. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "William Walter "Bill" Mercer".
  7. ^ "Bill Mercer HD 46, Republican". Billings Gazette. Billings Gazette. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  8. ^ "William Mercer". The Federalist Society. The Federalist Society. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  9. ^ Bryon, Eve (10 January 2010). "Mercer made big impact as chief US Attorney". Independent Record. Independent Record. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  10. ^ "About Project Safe Childhood". U.S. Department of Justice. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  11. ^ Hansen, Jordan (July 11, 2025). "Mercer nominated by Trump to judge role on federal bench".
  12. ^ "William Mercer". www.hollandhart.com.
  13. ^ "2018 Legislative General Election Canvass" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  14. ^ "2020 Legislative General Election Canvass" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Legislator Details". Montana State Legislature. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Bill Mercer". Ballotpedia.
  17. ^ "House of Representatives Committeess 2021" (PDF). Montana Legislature. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Bill Mercer takes oath of office, sworn in as Montana's new federal judge". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Trump says he's appointing Bill Mercer of Billings as federal court judge". Q2 News (KTVQ). July 11, 2025.
  20. ^ "PN400-2 - Nomination of William W. Mercer for The Judiciary, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". www.congress.gov. July 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "Nominations | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov.
  22. ^ "Results of committee executive business meeting" (PDF). www.judiciary.senate.gov.
  23. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: William W. Mercer to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Montana)". www.senate.gov.
  24. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: William W. Mercer, of Montana, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Montana)". www.senate.gov.
  25. ^ William W. Mercer at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
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