A Montana State Senate vote on Friday means Michele Levine will not continue as a Cascade County District Judge. It s the first time in 50 years the Senate has declined to confirm an interim judge.
At Levine s final hearing in Great Falls, a Youth in Need of Care matter, she said she told the parties that a new judge would have to get up to speed on their case.
Until then, she said, those kids are “in limbo,” and they re not the only ones. The Senate is playing with a lot of people s lives, said Levine. That breaks my heart.
Without a confirmation, Levine cannot continue working. Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Bryce Bennett, D-Missoula, said he s unsure of the timeline for her removal.
Today
Cloudy skies with late-night snow showers. Low 29F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 80%. About one inch of snow expected. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..
Tonight
Cloudy skies with late-night snow showers. Low 29F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 80%. About one inch of snow expected. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Updated: April 22, 2021 @ 7:47 pm
Montana House, Senate endorse final version of bill on transgender athletes
and last updated 2021-04-22 21:41:20-04
HELENA â The Montana House and Senate have both endorsed the final version of a bill that would block transgender female student-athletes from women and girlsâ sports â sending it closer to Gov. Greg Gianforteâs desk.
The House voted 60-39 Thursday afternoon to approve a conference committeeâs changes to House Bill 112. Several minutes later, the Senate also approved the changes, 27-23. In both chambers, most Republicans voted in favor, with all Democrats opposed.
If the bill passes final votes in both chambers on Friday, it will move on to the governor.
A Senate panel Friday rejected a judicial appointment made in the last administration and approved another, sending Judge Peter Ohman of Gallatin County to the full chamber for confirmation consideration.
Judge Michele Reinhart Levine, who has been presiding over the bench in Cascade County since she was appointed in November, was rejected.Â
The resolution carrying her confirmation will still go to the full Senate, although it s now tagged with a report on the committee s rejection. If the full Senate rejects her appointment, her judgeship ends the same day as the Senate s vote, a spokesperson for the Senate GOP said Friday.