Michael W. Cotter (born July 7, 1949) is an American attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Montana from 2009 to 2017.

[1][2] Cotter graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration, received his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Utah and received his Juris Doctor from the Notre Dame Law School.

[3] He began his legal career as an associate at the Law Offices of John C. Hoyt, later forming the Cotter & Cotter Law Firm with his wife, Patricia O'Brien Cotter.

From 2000–2009, he was the sole practitioner at Michael W. Cotter, P.C.

[3] Cotter served on active duty with the United States Army from 1972 to 1974 and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant.