Category: Montana News
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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…
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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…
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Republican effort to regulate courts fizzles
A 27-bill GOP package to alter the judiciary is barely alive. Once thought to be a legislative priority, a Republican effort to regulate Montana courts is going out with a whimper in the final days of the Legislature. Of the 27 bills crafted by a select committee to “reign in the courts,” only eight remain…
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Legislative committee supports yet another version of partisan judicial elections
House Bill 838 would apply only to the Supreme Court, and create a blanket primary process with two candidates moving to general election Bruce Spencer, a lobbyist representing the State Bar of Montana, did not need to elaborate on his organization’s position on a bill before the House Judiciary Committee on Friday — he’s said…
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Citizen grand jury bill fails on House floor
Bill would have allowed public to petition for a citizen-led grand jury, which would have been its own judge. Citizen grand juries aren’t coming to Montana, at least for now. House lawmakers voted down legislation to change the state’s constitution to allow citizens to summon a jury via petition was voted down 40-60 on Tuesday…
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Bill to protect constitutional officers who are lawyers from discipline sparks debate
A quick back-and-forth between Sen. Barry Usher and Rep. Tom France addressed the elephant in the room with a bill that would prohibit disciplinary proceedings against constitutional officers who are lawyers, albeit with exceptions. In 2023, Attorney General Austin Knudsen was accused of 41 counts of professional misconduct — charges his lawyer has argued should…
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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…