A native Montanan, Mary Jane Knisely graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology before attending law school at the University of Montana. Following law school, Judge Knisely served as a criminal prosecutor for the City of Billings. In 1997, Judge Knisely was elected as Billings Municipal Court Judge, a position in which she served for 13 years. In 2010, Judge Knisely was elected to the District Court of Montana Thirteenth Judicial District, Yellowstone County.

In 2011, Judge Knisely was selected as the Region 10 Judicial Outreach Liaison as part of a partnership of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the ABA Judicial Division. This partnership assists judges in courts of every size and jurisdiction by providing education and information-sharing opportunities related to impaired driving. In May 2012, Judge Knisely joined the faculty of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. Judge Knisely serves on the Executive Committee for the American Bar Association’s National Conference of Specialized Court Judges.

For the last twenty years, Judge Knisely has assisted in the establishment of treatment courts in Montana. She pioneered the first misdemeanor Drug, DUI and Mental Health Courts in Montana. She currently presides over a Felony Impaired Driving Court, known as the STEER Court (Sobriety, Treatment, Education, Excellence, and Rehabilitation), and a Veterans Treatment Court, known as CAMO (Courts Assisting Military Offenders). From May of 2017 to date, STEER and CAMO were selected as NADCP ALL RISE Academy/Mentor Courts. In December of 2014, Judge Knisely was honored with the Yellowstone County DUI Task Force Award of Merit. Judge Knisely has also worked closely with the Board of Crime Control on the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. She currently serves on Montana Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Council.

Judge Knisely has been an active member of the Montana Supreme Court Equal Justice Task Force and Self-Help Law Center Advisory Board. She received the 2012 State Bar of Montana Distinguished Service Award for her Equal Justice efforts, the 2019 Life Savers Public Service Recognition Honor from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the NADCP ALL RISE 2019 DWI Court Leadership Award. Judge Knisely serves on the Montana Department of Transportation Executive Leadership Committee, the Montana Supreme Court Drug Court Advisory Committee, and the National Rural Justice Collaborative.

Judge Knisely has presented at many Judges’ Conferences on the Judicial perspective of Individualized Sentencing, Treatment Court Best Practices, and Alcohol and Drugged Driving, Judge Knisely has trained judges on Drug Recognition Evidence (DRE) and the developing case law. Judge Knisely serves as faculty for NADCP ALL RISE, recently resenting on Sanctions Incentives Therapeutic Adjustments, Team Roles for DWI Courts and Veterans Courts. She recently presented at ALL RISE 2023. Judge Knisely has dedicated much of her career to the idea that treatment, rehabilitation and compassion are the appropriate responses to addiction and community safety.