Author: Keegan Flaherty
-
Chief Justice Cory Swanson – Placing Outreach on the Supreme Court Docket
It was indeed an honor to have the Honorable Cory Swanson, Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, visit in-studio. The outreach represented one of Justice Swanson’s tenets in judicial reform; a more public-facing court system. Click on the podcast for an inside look at the state’s judicial system, and to learn more about how…
-
Groups claim Montana Attorney General wants to mislead public about nonpartisan elections
Constitutional Initiative 131 would require district court, Supreme Court elections to be nonpartisan; groups say rewritten wording suggests the opposite Two groups leading efforts to ensure that Montana’s judicial elections, both at the local and Supreme Court level, remain nonpartisan have filed a motion with the Montana Supreme Court saying that Attorney General Austin Knudsen…
-
FACT SHEET: About Friends of the Third Branch
We were founded in 2023 by four retired Montana lawyers who recognized that Montana’s courts and judges are facing increasing pressure from partisan efforts to influence, weaken, or politicize the judiciary. These threats to the independence of our courts erode public trust, restrict access to justice, and endanger our constitutional rights. We believe that Montanans…
-
Judge recuses from ‘bathroom bill’ case to promote judicial integrity
Missoula County District Court Judge Shane Vannatta recused himself from hearing a lawsuit over a bill that says there are only two sexes, but he noted the “facts” in a move to disqualify him are “exceedingly thin.” In a Sept. 25 court filing, Vannatta said he would withdraw from jurisdiction of the case “in the interest of…
-
Montana Supreme Court chief, legislators, attorneys gather to discuss attacks on courts
MISSOULA – The Montana state legislature passed five laws last session that took aim at the judiciary branch. Some of them look to reassign judges for different cases in different geographic locations, while others take aim at judges by creating a special judicial review commission. These laws sounded the alarm for some legal professionals, and…
-
FACT SHEET: The Importance of Non-Partisan Elections of Judges and Justices
Montana’s Constitution guarantees judicial independence to maintain impartiality and uphold the rule of law. There are many types of courts in Montana. Municipal and justice courts deal with traffic violations and small claim disputes and see nearly 125,000 cases each year. District courts resolve most legal issues, including family law, business disputes, criminal complaints, and…
-
Nonpartisan Justice is the Montana Way — Let’s Keep It That Way
As a 30-year Republican officeholder I’ve always believed that some things should remain above the partisan fray I am supporting the Montanans for Fair and Impartial Judges campaign because I want to keep our judiciary independent. It’s impossible for a judge to be impartial if elected on a political party platform. Going back to ancient…
-
Judges Openly Doubt Government as Justice Dept. Misleads and Dodges Orders
Legal experts say the actions causing concern from the bench could have a more systemic effect, eroding the healthy functioning of the courts. Justice Department lawyers have long enjoyed a professional benefit when they appear in court. As a general rule, judges tend to take them at their word and assume they are telling the…
-
Judges Openly Doubt Government as Justice Dept. Misleads and Dodges Orders
Legal experts say the actions causing concern from the bench could have a more systemic effect, eroding the healthy functioning of the courts. Justice Department lawyers have long enjoyed a professional benefit when they appear in court. As a general rule, judges tend to take them at their word and assume they are telling the…
-
MT Department of Justice eliminates bureau that provided legal services for other state agencies
One of a series of letters sent from the Montana Department of Justice to other state agencies, announcing the elimination of DOJ’s Agency Legal Services Bureau. HELENA — The Montana Department of Justice is eliminating one of its bureaus, which provided legal counsel for other state agencies. Starting last week, department leaders sent letters to…