COMMISSIONER JAMES BROWN
On November 5th, 2024, James Brown was elected as the Treasure State’s next State Auditor. Prevailing by a 22-point margin, Brown oversees a state criminal justice agency tasked with protecting Montana’s insurance and securities consumers. As the elected State Auditor, Brown will also champion education funding and proper stewardship of state trust property as a member of the Montana Board of Land Commissioners.
Prior to his election, Commissioner Brown served for four years as the President of the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC). In this position, Brown is credited both with successfully overhauling a previously poor-performing agency and restoring its reputation as an effective regulator of several of the state’s largest industries, including power suppliers, railroads, and waste haulers.
State Auditor Brown grew up in Dillon. He is a proud graduate of the University of Montana – class of ’94. Brown obtained his J.D. from the Seattle University School of Law and a Masters in tax law from the University of Washington – Seattle. Brown also clerked for Gerry Alexander, the then Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court and worked as a policy aide in the United States Congress for a six-year period.
Brown is a fourth-generation Montanan whose family homesteaded in Beaverhead County in the 1880s. Prior to his career in public service, Brown owned and operated his own law firm, the James Brown Law Office, for more than a decade. He has represented and defended the legal interests of Montana’s farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and working families.
As Montana’s 18th State Auditor, Brown brings to the job his experience of operating a small business, and previously managing a state agency with a roughly $5 million budget and 33 employees. Brown has spent his entire professional career defending the interests of Montana consumers and investors. Commissioner Brown continues to work collaboratively with all parties to protect Montana consumers and the multiple users of Monana’s public lands, enhance funding for public education, and promote stewardship of state trust properties in this key elected position.
Commissioner Brown has zero-tolerance regarding those who violate the law or attempt to financially abuse seniors and other vulnerable groups. And, as someone who has owned his business and signed both the front and back of a paycheck, Brown is working to create a regulatory environment that is fair to those entities that are willing to provide much-needed insurance coverage to Montana citizens.
More than anything, Brown is proud to be a Montanan and to call the Treasure State home.
