HELENA - Eleven Montana lawyers have applied for the soon-to-be-vacant justice's seat on the state Supreme Court.

The attorneys all submitted their applications by Thursday's deadline. They are seeking the seat being vacated by Justice John Warner as of Dec. 31.

The attorneys applied with the state Judicial Nomination Commission, which will review the applications, seek public comment and interview the candidates. The panel then will narrow the field and submit the names of three to five finalists to Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who will appoint the next justice from that list.

The successful candidate is expected to take office in January 2010 and must run for election in November 2010 to serve out the remainder of Warner's term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2014.

Here are the applicants, according to the commission's secretary, Andy Suenram, a Dillon attorney:

• Roy Andes of Helena.
• Carlo Canty of Helena.
• Brenda Desmond of Missoula.
• JoAnn "Joey" Jayne of Arlee.
• David Ortley of Kalispell.
• Karen Powell of Helena.
• Peggy Probasco of Butte.
• Jeffrey Renz of Clinton.
• John Warren of Dillon.
• Ronald Waterman of Helena.
• Mike Wheat of Bozeman.

Renz and Waterman have both run unsuccessfully for the Supreme Court, while Wheat lost a bid for attorney general.

Two applicants, Jayne and Wheat, are former state legislators.

Beginning next week, Montanans can review each lawyer's application on the Judicial Nomination Commission's Web site, http://courts.mt.gov/supreme/boards/jud_nomination/default.mcpx .

The public will have 30 days to comment to the commission members, either by telephone or in writing, about the 11 applicants. That deadline is 5 p.m. Nov. 18.

They may contact Suenram by e-mail at asuenram@swmtlaw.com, by telephone at (406) 683-2391 or by mail at P.O. Box 1366, Dillon, MT 59725, or any other individual commissioners.

Besides Suehram, other members of the Judicial Nomination Commission are: District Judge Ted Lympus of Kalispell; Shirley Ball of Nashua; Mona Charles of Kalispell; Monica Paoli of Missoula; Martha Sheehy of Billings; and Paul Tuss of Havre.