Senate Republicans on the Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform voted Tuesday to require witnesses to testify under the threat of perjury and to subpoena any elected officials and their subordinates they wish to call, saying they want to ensure testimony is factual and that people they want to testify show up without delay.
Both amendments were brought by Senate President Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton and the chairman of the committee, which he formed this summer after the Montana Supreme Court and several district courts made decisions in cases that either struck down as unconstitutional laws the Republican-led legislature had passed during the past three years or did not side with their preferred outcome.