Documents Obtained: Montana Judges Above the Law?
Apparently there s some Montana judges who think they re above the law- especially when it comes to open records, electronic communications on government devices, and accountability before the taxpayers of Montana. It certainly makes you wonder, what else are they hiding?
With Republicans in control of the Governor s mansion for the first time in 16 years, and the Montana Legislature still squarely in Republican hands, it is pretty clear that Democrats are desperate to hold on to the grip they have over partisan judges and the judicial appointment process in Montana.
The Montana Supreme Court administrator deleted the emailed results from a poll of judges seeking opinions on a law now being challenged in the Supreme Court, according to documents provided to the Montana State News Bureau..The Montana Attorney General s Office raised the issue when it included in court filings 18 of the judges responses, although its unclear where
Montana Supreme Court quashes subpoena of judicial emails
April 12, 2021
FacebookTwitterEmail
HELENA, Mont. (AP) The Montana Supreme Court has temporarily quashed a legislative subpoena for the state court administrator s emails, which are believed to contain responses to a poll of District Court judges on legislation to give the governor more power in filling judicial vacancies between elections.
Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, signed a bill into law in March to eliminate the Judicial Nomination Commission and allow the governor to directly fill judicial vacancies. A legal challenge was filed with the Montana Supreme Court the next day.
Chief Justice Mike McGrath recused himself from the case because he had met with Gianforte and Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras and urged them not to support the bill. District Court Judge Kurt Kueger was appointed to fill his spot.
Montana Supreme Court quashes subpoena of judicial emails apnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from apnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Montana Supreme Court administrator deleted the emailed results from a poll of judges seeking opinions on a law now being challenged in the Supreme Court, according to documents provided to the Montana State News Bureau.Â
The law Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed in March expanding his appointment power over judicial vacancies immediately spawned a lawsuit challenging the law s constitutionality. The lawsuit, in turn, has ignited an inquiry from the legislative and executive branches over a poll administered in January. The poll was conducted by an email sent out by the state Supreme Court administrator. It solicited approve-or-oppose opinions from District Court judges and Supreme Court justices regarding Senate Bill 140 on behalf of the Montana Judges Association.