Katie R. Ranta

Trial Attorney & Appellate Advocate

Katie is a trial attorney and appellate advocate with nearly 20 years of experience representing clients in criminal and civil litigation in both State and Federal courts. She served as law clerk at both the federal and state levels.  For the past decade, she has practiced with the firm, handling cases throughout Montana in employment law, insurance defense, contested estates, premises and products liability, general civil litigation, and federal criminal defense. 

Civil Litigation Practice

Katie represents clients in a wide range of civil matters and emphasizes thorough trial preparation, effective use of procedural rules, and resolution strategies through negotiation and mediation. Her civil litigation focus includes: 

  

  • Defense of § 1983 cases 
  • Employment law (discrimination, wrongful discharge, human rights claims) 
  • Insurance defense (personal injury, construction, and coverage disputes) 
  • Contested estates, probate, and trust litigation 
  • Premises liability and products liability 
  • Administrative proceedings before various state departments, including the Department of Labor and POST 
  • General civil litigation and contract disputes

Criminal Defense Practice

Katie also defends clients in complex federal criminal matters and serious state felony cases. Her defense practice is rooted in careful investigation, constitutional advocacy, and development of mitigation strategies. Her criminal defense practice includes: 

  • White collar crimes 
  • Complex drug conspiracies 
  • Federal firearms and explosives offenses 
  • Indian Country offenses 
  • Sexual offenses 
  • Negligent and vehicular homicide 
  • Appellate review of federal and state convictions 

Katie has represented clients facing harsh mandatory minimum sentences and sentences up to life in prison.  She has secured significantly lower sentences, including sentences of one day and probation in drug distribution cases.

Appellate Advocacy

Katie is an experienced appellate lawyer with years of experience both securing reversals and affirmances for her clients. She served as law clerk to Montana Supreme Court Justice Michael Wheat, where she researched and drafted more than 50 opinions on a wide variety of subjects, and she has continued that focus in private practice. 

Representative Appellate Success:

  • State v. Strommen, 2024 MT 87 – Reversal of a conviction and 40-year sentence based on violation of client’s Sixth Amendment confrontation rights. 
  • Look v. McGowan, 2023 MT 182N – Affirmance of order granting motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. 
  • In re Marriage of Mahlum and Elder, 2020 MT 91 – Reversal of order requiring equitable division of husband’s early disability retirement. 
  • Estate of Boland, 2019 MT 236 – Affirmance of order removing Co-Personal Representative and imposing Rule 11 sanctions. 

In re Marriage of Broesder, 2017 MT 223 – Reversal of District Court order forcing the sale of a family farm in a dissolution. 

Professional Service

  • Lifetime Member, Montana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 
  • Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI) 
  • Continuing Legal Education presentations, including topics such as Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, 597 U.S. 507 (2022) and Discovery 101.   
  • Treasurer, Cascade County Bar Association (2016–present) 
  • Treasurer, Planned Parenthood of Montana (2016-2018) 
  • Treasurer, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana (2016-2020) 
  • Board of Directors, Planned Parenthood of Montana (2014-2020) 
  • State Bar of Montana’s CLE Institute (2012-2014) 
  • State Bar of Montana Judicial Relations Committee (2010-2020) 

Education

  • J. D., with honors, University of Montana School of Law (2008) 
    • National Moot Court Team 
    • Legal Writing Tutor, teaching legal citation 
    • Interned with the Butte-Silver Bow County Attorney’s Office and Missoula County Attorney’s Office 
    • Clinical internship with the Federal Defenders of Montana 
  • B. A in History, University of Montana (2002) 

Court Admissions

  • State Bar of Montana 
  • United States District Court, District of Montana 
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 
  • Supreme Court of the United States 

Background

Katie is a Great Falls native who returned home to practice with the firm.  She began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable R. Keith Strong, United States Magistrate Judge (ret.) then clerked for the Honorable Michael Wheat (ret.) of the Montana Supreme Court. Before joining the firm in 2015, Katie practiced with law firms in Whitefish and Missoula.