Jean A. Turnage

Jean Allen Turnage was the chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court from 1985 until 2000.

Early life and education

He was born in St. Ignatius, Montana. He served in the United States Army Air Corps after high school. He studied on the G.I. Bill at Montana State University, predecessor of the University of Montana.
Turnage was an enrolled citizen of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. He had two children.

Career

In 1952, he became Lake County's attorney. He served two years in the Montana House of Representatives and 20 years in the Montana State Senate including as senate president in 1981 session.
He ran successfully for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court in 1984, serving two terms before retiring in January 2001.