Montana Senate to hold confirmation hearings on outgoing governor s last appointed judges kbzk.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kbzk.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed into a law a bill that gives him mostly unfettered ability to fill supreme and district court vacancies.
Senate Bill 140, sponsored by Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, eliminates the Judicial Nominating Commission and gives the governor power to fill judicial vacancies. However, the appointments have to be approved by the Senate.
While the bill made its way through the legislature, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Regier, stalled on confirming three judges appointed by former Democratic Gov. Steven Bullock.
Opponents worried the eliminating the commission and giving the power directly to the governor would make the process too partisan. Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, who helped draft the bill, said the commission process was already partisan because of the member’s history of almost exclusively donating to Democrat candidates.
Gianforte signs bill granting himself power to appoint judges upon vacancies helenair.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from helenair.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Complaint challenges Montana law allowing governor to appoint judges
Associated Press
HELENA Montana s governor has signed a bill to eliminate the Judicial Nomination Commission and allow the governor to directly fill between-election vacancies in state District Courts and the Montana Supreme Court, reversing a change made in the state s 1972 constitution and prompting an immediate legal challenge.
A delegate to the 1972 Constitutional Convention and two former lawmakers who voted to create the nominating commission in 1973 are among the petitioners who asked the Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday to declare the law unconstitutional.
Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a statement after Tuesday s bill signing that he will “appoint well-qualified judges who will protect and uphold the Constitution and who will interpret laws, not make them from the bench. I am committed to appointing judges transparently, providing for robust public input and ensuring judges have a diversity of legal