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Raph Graybill

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Raph Graybill
Born
Raphael Jeffrey Carlisle Graybill

(1989-02-20) February 20, 1989 (age 35)
Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
EducationColumbia University (BA)
Magdalen College, Oxford (MPhil)
Yale University (JD)
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Marisa Franklin
​
(m. 2017)​
Children1

Raphael Jeffrey Carlisle "Raph" Graybill (born February 20, 1989)[1] is an American attorney who served as chief legal counsel to Steve Bullock, the governor of Montana, from 2017 to 2021.[2][3] Graybill was a candidate for attorney general of Montana in the 2020 general election, losing to Republican nominee Austin Knudsen.[4] Currently, Graybill is running for lieutenant governor in the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election in Montana.[5]

Early life and education

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Graybill is a fifth-generation native of Montana.[6][7] He was born and raised in Great Falls and graduated from Great Falls High School.[8][1] In 2010, Graybill earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Columbia University.[9][1][10] He then studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he earned a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in political theory in 2012.[11][12] Graybill received a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2015.[13][14]

Graybill served as an auxiliary police officer with the New York City Police Department for four years while studying at Columbia University.[11]

Career

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In 2008, Graybill was elected as a Democratic National Committee delegate and had the distinction of being the youngest DNC delegate elected to the Montana Delegation.[15][16]

After graduating from Yale Law School in 2015, Graybill served as the law clerk to Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in Billings, Montana.[17] He then worked in private practice for the firm Susman Godfrey LLP, representing small businesses harmed by unfair business practices.[18][6]

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In 2017, Montana Governor Steve Bullock appointed Graybill as chief legal counsel.[3] As the lead attorney in the Montana Executive Branch, he represented the legal interests of the administration and its constituents. In this role, Graybill represented cases in the Supreme Court of Montana and United States Supreme Court[19] and set precedents in easements and public land access, veto powers, and election laws including mail in ballots and dark money disclosure requirements.[20]

Notable cases:

  • Lamm v. Bullock (U.S. Supreme Court / U.S. District Court)[21][22][23]
  • Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (U.S. Supreme Court)[24][25]
  • Janus v. AFSCME (U.S. Supreme Court)[26]
  • Bullock v. Internal Revenue Service (U.S. District Court)[27][20]
  • Bullock v. Fox (Montana Supreme Court)[28][29][30][31][32][33][34]
  • Montana Smoke Free Association v. Bullock (Montana District Court)[35]
  • Bullock v. Stapleton (Montana District Court)[36][37]

COVID-19 response

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As chief legal counsel, Graybill helped design Montana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Montana. Graybill participated in drafting the governor’s executive orders, including No. 2-2020, that shaped new rules in the state designed to limit the spread of the virus. He also coordinated investigations and enforcement through the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.[38]

Graybill was also charged with defending Montana's mail-in ballots for the November 3, 2020 election as part of the state's COVID-19 measures to protect voter and election worker safety during the pandemic. President Donald Trump's campaign brought a lawsuit against Montana Governor Bullock's mail-in ballot directive. Governor Bullock's directive allowed Montana counties to conduct elections using mail-in ballots if counties determined that in-person polling stations posed a significant public health risk.[39][40] Graybill won the case for Montana in the U.S. District Court, and, when the Trump Campaign attempted to contest the decision in a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Supreme court sided with Graybill and the State of Montana, which allowed counties to proceed with their plans to send out mail-in ballots.[22]

2020 Montana attorney general campaign

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On May 8, 2019, Graybill announced his candidacy for Montana attorney general.[41] Graybill won the June 2, 2020 Democratic primary, defeating state representative Kimberly Dudik.[42] On November 3, 2020, Graybill lost the general election to Republican Austin Knudsen.[43]

2024 Montana lieutenant governor campaign

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On February 19, 2024 Democratic candidate for Montana governor Ryan Busse announced that Graybill would be his running mate for the upcoming gubernatorial election in 2024.[5]

Personal life

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In December 2017, Graybill married Marisa Meredith Franklin, the mathematics instructional coordinator at the Montana Office of Public Instruction.[44] They have one daughter, Genevieve.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "American Rhodes Scholars-Elect for 2010: Raphael Jeffrey Carlisle Graybill, District XIV, Montana" (PDF).
  2. ^ Smith, Griffen. "Attorney General candidates tout different priorities". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Montana Governors Office".
  4. ^ "Graybill brings right approach to Attorney General's Office". missoulian.com. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Silvers, Mara (February 19, 2024). "Busse taps Graybill as running mate in bid for governor's office". Montana Free Press. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Meet Raph". Raph Graybill. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Graybill, Raph (October 2, 2020). "Montana needs an independent watchdog who will defend our public lands". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Cates-Carney, Corin (October 16, 2020). "2020 Candidate Interview: Raph Graybill For Attorney General". mtpr.org. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Gill, Eric K. (February 16, 2020). "AG candidate Raph Graybill courts Sidney". Sidney Herald. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "Raphael Graybill '10 Awarded Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships". Columbia College. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Raphael Graybill '10CC (Political Science)". Columbia College. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "Graybill Awarded Rhodes Scholarship".
  13. ^ Chronicle editorial board (October 9, 2020). "In state down-ballot races, Democrats deserve vote". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  14. ^ "Raph Graybill 2020 Election Questionnaire". mtpr.org. May 21, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "Montana's youngest delegate has politics flowing in his blood". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. August 24, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  16. ^ "Raphael Graybill '10 Awarded Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships".
  17. ^ Puckett, Karl. "Great Falls native Graybill announces run for attorney general". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  18. ^ "Practice Background: Attorney-Advocate Raph Graybill" (PDF).
  19. ^ Cates-Carney, Corin (October 16, 2020). "2020 Candidate Interview: Raph Graybill For Attorney General". www.mtpr.org. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Kosted, Nathan (August 1, 2019). "Governor Bullock and Raph Graybill Beat Trump on Dark Money in Win for Montana". The Montana Post. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  21. ^ "U.S. Supreme Court won't stop Montana mail ballots". KTVH. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  22. ^ a b "US Supreme Court denies Republican attempt to block Montana mail-in ballots". Missoula Current. October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  23. ^ "Search - Supreme Court of the United States". www.supremecourt.gov. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  24. ^ Liptak, Adam (June 30, 2020). "Montana Battle Over Aid for Religious Schools Reaches Supreme Court". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  25. ^ Bolton, Aaron (January 22, 2020). "Supreme Court Hears Montana Case On School Choice And Religious Schools". www.mtpr.org. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  26. ^ "BRIEF OF STEVE BULLOCK, GOVERNOR OF MONTANA, AS AMICUS CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENTS" (PDF).
  27. ^ "Docket for Bullock v. Internal Revenue Service, 4:18-cv-00103 - CourtListener.com". CourtListener. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  28. ^ "Here's how debate over a conservation easement ended up before the Montana Supreme Court". Helena Independent Record. December 12, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  29. ^ "MT Supreme Court hears arguments in Bullock and Fox battle over conservation easements". KXLH. December 6, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  30. ^ "Bullock v. Fox". Justia Law. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  31. ^ "Montana governor sues attorney general over land authority". AP NEWS. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  32. ^ "Montana Court Overrules Attorney General On Easements". www.mtpr.org. Associated Press. December 12, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  33. ^ "Bullock vs. Fox: State Supreme Court hears arguments in conservation easement case". Missoula Current. December 5, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  34. ^ tom.kuglin@helenair.com, TOM KUGLIN (December 5, 2018). "Montana Supreme Court hears arguments on who gets final say on conservation easements". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  35. ^ "MONTANA TWENTY-FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT RAVALLI COUNTY" (PDF).
  36. ^ "Bullock vs. Stapleton: Is 'wild bison' bill vetoed or Montana law?". Missoula Current. May 30, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  37. ^ MTPR News. "Judge Sides With Bullock In Veto Dispute". Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  38. ^ Georgiou, Maritsa (October 26, 2020). "State seeks temporary restraining order on 5th Flathead business". KECI. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  39. ^ "Judge will rule soon on GOP attempt to block mail ballots". AP NEWS. September 23, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  40. ^ Ragar, Shaylee (September 8, 2020). "Republicans Sue To Stop All-Mail Voting In Montana". www.mtpr.org. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  41. ^ "Great Falls native kicks off campaign for Montana Attorney General". KXLH. May 8, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  42. ^ Drake, Phil. "Graybill, Knudsen win attorney general primaries". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  43. ^ "Graybill concedes Montana Attorney General race to Knudsen". KTVQ. November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  44. ^ "Marisa Franklin, Raphael Graybill (Published 2017)". The New York Times. December 31, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
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