Montana judge reprimanded by disciplinary panel over political email

A Montana judge has been reprimanded for using his official email to express political opinions.

The Independent Record reports the Montana Judicial Standards Commission has publicly reprimanded Judge Michael Swingley for an email he sent Jan. 2.

A stipulation for public reprimand filed Nov. 12 with the Montana Supreme Court says Swingley agrees the email violated four canons of the Montana Code of Judicial Conduct.

The stipulation says Swingley has agreed to not use his public email or office to engage in political discourse. Swingley says in a statement he believes the commission's decision was fair.