Buttrick is a well-known Libertarian Party activist who was appointed to the bench in 2001. This was his first election after his appointment. He had been challenged by several lawyers coming before his as “biased” for his libertarian beliefs. These challenges went all the way to the state Supreme Court but were all defeated.
Butrick ran as the LP candidate for Governor in 1994 and for the state legislature in 1998.
Also, the LP elected at least 20 candidates for a city councils and other offices around the country.