The Montana Supreme Court on Sunday put the brakes on a legislative inquiry into the state court administratorâs emails, which recent revelations have shown to contain judgesâ polls on pending legislation and were deleted from the administratorâs account.
A dispute over the separation of powers is developing out of a state Supreme Court case over the constitutionality of a new law signed last month expanding the governorâs appointment power over judicial vacancies.Â
On Monday the Senate Republicans, through counsel with the Montana Department of Justice, said they will defy the court's order quashing the subpoena, stating the dispute over judicial emails do not belong in the case challenging the constitutionality of a new law.