The last day of the state Legislature proved a rollercoaster day for Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Chris Abbott.
Twice on Thursday lawmakers voted down his confirmation, first in committee and then again on the Senate floor. But after Democrats reversed course on another bill limiting the state s liability when someone falls ill with COVID-19, Republicans later gave way and confirmed Abbott on a 27-23 vote. I havenât slept a lot the last couple days, Abbott said after the final vote. I knew it was going to be close. I understand this issue . in a lot of ways has been bigger than me throughout the whole session.
Montana Republicans Plan For Ongoing Investigation Of The Judiciary
As the 2021 legislative session winds down, Montana Republican lawmakers are putting the pieces in place to ensure they can continue their investigation into the judicial branch.
Republican lawmakers are planning to spend $285,000 over the next two years to fund a special committee investigating alleged bias and misconduct among judges and state Supreme Court Justices. Republicans amended legislative rules to allow the committee to hire a special counsel to aid in their investigation.
Democrats continue to denounce the investigation, saying it’s an attack on separation of powers and meant to undermine the judiciary. Montana Supreme Court justices have also refuted the claims of bias and misconduct.
The legislative committee formed by Republicans to probe the judicial branch released a draft of its initial report Wednesday, outlining concerns raised by the GOP in recent weeks and providing a list of recommendations for the Legislature to consider.Â
The Select Committee on Judicial Transparency and Accountability is scheduled to meet at 8 a.m. Thursday to discuss the report and take public comment, Sen. Greg Hertz, a Republican from Polson who chairs the committee, said Wednesday.Â
The report largely captures legislative Republicans view on their dispute with the judicial branch, which has been ratcheting up over the past month. It includes a timeline and citations for the legislature s investigative authority. The GOP s concerns laid out in the report include lobbying on state time and using state resources regarding pending legislation and judicial appointments, as well as assertions of judicial bias and failure to retain public records.Â
recreational marijuana, and GOP priorities with social policy and tax cuts.
Those social priorities include a pair of bills about transgender youth. Senators last Tuesday indefinitely postponed consideration of
House Bill 427 from Rep. John Fuller, R-Whitefish, which would have barred doctors from providing gender-affirming surgeries to minors who have gender dysphoria. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in that vote to stop the policy moving forward. Another bill that would
bar transgender girls and women from participating in school sports is headed to the Gov. Greg Gianforte’s desk with an amendment that would void the policy if the federal government were to withhold education funding because of it.
Legislature Plans Post-Session Judicial Branch Investigation mtpr.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mtpr.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.