GEORGE OCHENSKI Right when you think the Republican-dominated Montana Legislature and governor canât get any worse, they do. A number of bills that Gov. Greg Gianforte happily signed into law are already facing court challenges, so to stack the deck in their favor, both the governor and the Legislature have launched a new and shameless attack on the judiciary â the âseparate but equalâ branch of government that is likely to toss their unconstitutional laws in the garbage where they belong. The initial volley in this highly partisan battle was launched when the legislature passed a bill giving the governor carte blanche authority to appoint judges rather than pick from a list of candidates vetted by the non-partisan Judicial Nominating Committee, which has operated successfully for decades. As one attorney friend quipped: âThis means the governor can pick the absolutely worst, most incompetent lawyer, and providing theyâre sufficiently conservative and/or made a big campaign contribution, then he can appoint them to sit in judgment over the most serious issues facing Montanans, their lives, businesses, homes and families.â