William Walter “Bill” Mercer

On July 15, 2025, President Trump nominated William Walter “Bill” Mercer to the U.S. District Court of Montana. He was confirmed on October 23, 2025.

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Biography

William Walter “Bill” Mercer received his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law (1989 – 1993), his M.P.A. from Harvard University (1986 – 1988), and his B.A. from the University of Montana (1982 – 1986).

Legal Experience

Mercer is currently a state representative in the Montana House of Representatives (Jan. 2019 – Present), after being elected in November 2018,  and then re-elected in Nov. 2020, Nov. 2022, and Nov. 2024.  He works at Holland & Hart LLP (2010 – Present) — as a partner since 2014 and of counsel from 2010-2013.

Mercer has served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Montana (2001 – 2009) and the U.S. Department of Justice (2005 – 2007), and was Assistant U.S.  Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Montana (1997 – 2001). He has worked as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Montana (1997 – 1999) and Montana State University –Billings (1996). Other jobs include:

• U.S. Department of Justice (1989 – 1994)
• Attorney Advisor (1994)
• Policy Analyst (1990 – 1994)
• Presidential Management Intern (1989 – 1990)
• Presidential Management Intern, U.S. Department of the Treasury (1988 – 1989)
• Capital Campaign Assistant, University of Montana Foundation (Spring—Summer 1986)

Notable other Mercer facts include:

• Federalist Society Member (~1993)

• Member, Montana Board of Crime Control (2001 – 2004)

• Board Chairman (2003 – 2004)

• Led a bill in the Montana House of Representatives that requires local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE.

• Withdrew from consideration for Associate Attorney General in 2007 amid criticism from the Chief District Judge for Montana and involvement in the politically motivated termination of 7 USDAs.

• Represented oil and gas trade associations and mining companies in supporting decisions that may have a lasting impact on the environment, including leasing federal land for oil and gas development and granting permits for new mines.

• Advocated for an indirect funding of religious schools by the state through representing challengers to a Montana rule that prevented scholarships—for which donors receive tax credits for their contributions to the awarding organizations—from being applied to religious schools.

• Defended the enforcement of bad actor statutes against a mining company that recruited a CEO who previously caused Montana to incur costs for reclaiming a mining operation that went bankrupt.