GOP Investigation Into Montana Judiciary Continues, Awaiting Final Court Orders
Montana lawmakers continue their investigation into allegations of bias among members of the judicial branch. After a series of rapid developments, there’s a break in the action and it’s not clear what comes next. MTPR’s Shaylee Ragar shares her reporting with Freddy Monares.
FREDDY Shaylee, this investigation started at the tail end of the legislative session. Can you remind us how the Legislature came to investigate the judiciary?
SHAYLEE Sure. This started when an internal poll of the Montana Judges Association became public earlier this spring. It showed that some members of the judicial branch voiced support and opposition to bills moving through the legislature that could impact the judiciary.
Originally published on May 5, 2021 7:22 pm
Republicans and Democrats on a special legislative committee are at odds over dueling reports summarizing an ongoing investigation into Montana’s judicial branch.
The
minority report from Democratic lawmakers refutes GOP claims of alleged judicial bias and misconduct, saying Republican lawmakers and the Republican-led executive branch are trying to smear the judiciary.
It also accuses Republican legislators of conspiring with Gov. Greg Gianforte to access and release the judiciary’s records, which have been used as the basis for GOP claims that the judiciary improperly used state resources to oppose legislation last session.
Republican House Majority Leader Sue Vinton criticized Democrats summary of the situation Wednesday, saying that their report doesn’t include footnotes to back those claims.
/ The Montana Select Committee on Judicial Accountability and Transparency considers draft reports regarding an investigation into the judiciary branch May 5, 2021.
Republicans and Democrats on a special legislative committee are at odds over dueling reports summarizing an ongoing investigation into Montana’s judicial branch.
The
minority report from Democratic lawmakers refutes GOP claims of alleged judicial bias and misconduct, saying Republican lawmakers and the Republican-led executive branch are trying to smear the judiciary.
It also accuses Republican legislators of conspiring with Gov. Greg Gianforte to access and release the judiciary’s records, which have been used as the basis for GOP claims that the judiciary improperly used state resources to oppose legislation last session.
Democratic lawmakers in a report released Monday blasted a Republican-led probe into the judiciary, calling the GOP s investigation an attempt to undermine an independent branch of government.
The Select Committee on Judicial Transparency and Accountability, formed by Republicans last month to investigate the judiciary over GOP allegations of misusing of state resources, failure to retain public records and judicial bias, released its report last week, signed by Republican chair Sen. Greg Hertz, of Polson, and House Majority Leader Sue Vinton, of Billings.
The minority report released by committee Democrats Sen. Diane Sands, of Missoula, and House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, of Helena, starts by labeling the committee a coordinated effort to attack and smear the independent judiciary by Republicans in the Legislature and executive branch.
MT GOP lawmakers extend and widen investigation of judiciary
MTN News
and last updated 2021-04-27 21:04:33-04
HELENA â Legislative Republicans took more actions Tuesday to investigate the Montana Supreme Court and state judiciary for alleged bias â including the creation of a âspecial counselâ who can scrutinize âany ⦠institution of state government.â
They also voted to extend and finance a legislative committee that will guide the investigation, for another two years.
And, the committee sent a pointed letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath, asking him to explain the high courtâs role, if any, in lobbying by the judiciary on bills before the Legislature.