Judicial Branch

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has formed an advisory council to help fill a district court judge vacancy in Cascade County. This is the executive’s first opportunity to fill a vacancy directly under a law currently being challenged in court.

Republicans and Democrats on a special legislative committee are at odds over dueling reports summarizing an ongoing investigation into Montana’s judicial branch.

In our final episode for the 2021 legislative session, we're looking at new laws, how lawmakers sought to asset more power among Montana's branches of government and what loose ends remain as we head into the interim.

After an abnormal delay in voting and a committee rejection, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Chris Abbott was confirmed by the Montana...

The Montana Supreme Court will proceed with a full bench to consider a challenge to a new law that allows the governor to appoint judges and justices to court vacancies.

This week we’re watching how the Republican majority is spending their mandate from voters as the session is winding down and last minute legislation.

This week we’re watching a mounting dispute over separation of powers between the Legislature and the Montana Supreme Court. We’re also watching the debate on a bill that would incentivize the state’s largest utility to buy more of the Colstrip coal-fired power plant.

This week we’re watching the legal marijuana bill take shape, lawmakers consider the former governor’s district court judge nominees, and proposals to change elections in the state.

A bipartisan group is petitioning the Montana Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional a bill allowing the governor to directly appoint district court judges and state Supreme Court justices during vacancies.

HELENA — The Montana Legislature has considered nearly a dozen bills this session aimed at changing how Montana’s judicial branch is formed and how it works.