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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 haven’t 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 b...

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 inve...

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.  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.  The report largely captures legislative Republicans' view on their dispute with the judicial branch, w...

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 wit...

MT Supreme Court justices address investigatory committee Dems denounce inquiry as partisan attack on judges MTN News By: Mike Dennison and last updated 2021-04-19 23:25:24-04 HELENA — All seven Montana Supreme Court justices on Monday appeared – virtually – before a legislative committee investigating potential judicial bias, to say they’ve taken no position on new laws that may come before them in a constitutional challenge. The appearance also came just three days after the court quashed legislative subpoenas compelling them to produce internal communica...