Author: Keegan Flaherty
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Roberts rejects Trump’s call for impeaching judge who ruled against his deportation plans
WASHINGTON (AP) — In an extraordinary display of conflict between the executive and judiciary branches, Chief Justice John Roberts rejected calls for impeaching judges Tuesday, shortly after President Donald Trump demanded the removal of one who ruled against his deportation plans. The rebuke from the Supreme Court’s leader demonstrated how the controversy over recent deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members has…
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As 2025 Montana Legislature hits halfway point, party leaders point to priorities
Judiciary, property taxes take center stage in leadership’s first-half review. As the 2025 Montana Legislature hit its midway point, leaders from both parties spoke on their achievements from the first 48 days and their priorities going into the second half of the session. Republicans touted bills they have pushed to change the judiciary — a major priority for…
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Claims court endorsed by Montana Senate
The three-judge court, appointed by the governor, would take on constitutional claims and asbestos suits to streamline district court dockets; detractors say it’s another attempt to wrest control over the judicial branch District courts in the state of Montana saw more than 57,000 cases filed in 2024, with a record 13,854 criminal cases filed across the…
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House and Senate make opposite decisions on partisan judiciary bills
SB 42, requiring judges to declare a party, advanced on party lines while HB 295, giving judicial candidates the option to list party affiliation, failed in the House Leaders in Montana’s Republican Party have made it clear that when the Legislature disbands at the end of the 69th session, the plan is to assign the…
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New state Supreme Court chief justice tells Legislature to not make judicial elections partisan
Cory Swanson spoke to a joint session of the state House and Senate on a day that also featured speeches from Montana’s federal delegation and a tribal nation chairman. Newly minted state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cory Swanson had a blunt message for Montana legislators near the end of remarks delivered to a joint session…
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Phony flier takes aim at State Bar of Montana
Lobbyist, legislators refute attempt as a ‘scam’ Members of the State Bar of Montana appear to have received a flier from a fictitious organization claiming the Bar is attacking the Legislature, and letting members know they are eligible for a refund. The mailer was sent from an address similar to a longtime Bozeman lawyer whose…
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Substitute judges selected to decide discipline measures for Montana attorney general
Republican Austin Knudsen faces 41 findings of professional conduct violations. Disciplinary proceedings against Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen could be wrapping up, now that judges have been empaneled to decide the outcome. The Montana Supreme Court on Friday selected five district court judges to decide what discipline Knudsen, a Republican, will face for 41 findings of…
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Will the Supreme Court Preserve the Rule of Law? Chief Justice Roberts May Have the Answer
Less than a month after President Donald Trump took office, numerous federal judges have issued orders temporarily blocking and restraining parts of his agenda. From Trump’s executive order attempting to eliminate the constitutional right of children of undocumented immigrants to birthright citizenship to Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” attempting to supersede Congress, these judges have acted to preserve the rule…
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Ellsworth turns from former persecutor to latest Democratic martyr
Liberals in the Montana Senate sure have a funny way of rewarding the guy who tormented them and blocked their legislative plans for years. Besides sympathizing with a man who has seemed to frustrate them for years, the Senate Dems’ moves backing former Senate Majority Leader Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, suggest they’ve decided to jump head-first…
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Ellsworth pushed business associate Eggleston for second role with state government
Ellsworth said his associate could help if Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court needed more support Before Sen. Jason Ellsworth faced allegations of misconduct for signing a $170,000 state contract with his business associate, Bryce Eggleston, the senator from Hamilton pitched Eggleston as a potential candidate for a state communications job. The communications job never existed. However,…