MontanaMontana leaders could cancel certain court orders against officials
If adopted, legislative leaders and either the governor or attorney general could jointly cancel certain court orders against Montana officials and lawmakers.
What it does
Legislative leaders and either the governor or attorney general could jointly cancel certain court orders against elected officials or lawmakers by filing in the court that issued them.
Once canceled, the court order could not be enforced, and the covered elected official could not be found in civil or criminal contempt of court.
Argument forState leaders might resolve disputes over certain court orders by filing together within 10 business days.
Argument againstPeople seeking documents or action through a court order might lose its force if state leaders jointly cancel it.
More detail
The proposal would let legislative leaders and either the governor or attorney general file together to cancel certain court orders. This applies to orders directing a Montana elected official, an individual legislator, or all or part of the legislature to produce documents or take or avoid an action. The filing must be signed by the Senate president or House speaker and either the governor or attorney general. They must file within 10 business days after the court issues the order.
The proposal would make a canceled order unenforceable and bar contempt findings for covered elected officials. This applies to an order canceled through the joint filing described in the proposal. The contempt bar applies to an elected official for whom notice of cancellation is issued under this section.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Died
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- May 23(S) Died in ProcessDied
- Mar 28(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 28(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Mar 25(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
- Mar 24(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3(H) 1st Reading
- Mar 3(H) Referred to Committee - (H) JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 1(S) Transmitted to House
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 1(S) 3rd Reading
- Mar 1(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Feb 28(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 28(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Feb 13(S) Committee Report - (S) Judiciary
- Vote recorded do_pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
- Feb 7(S) Hearing Canceled - (S) Judiciary
- Feb 7(S) Hearing - (S) Judiciary
- Jan 26(S) Hearing Canceled - (S) Judiciary
- Jan 7(S) Referred to Committee - (S) JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 6(S) 1st Reading
- 2024
- Dec 18(S) Introduced
- Dec 9(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Dec 6(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Dec 5(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Dec 4(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Dec 4(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Dec 4(LC) Draft in Edit
- Dec 2(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Nov 8(LC) Drafter Assigned
- Nov 7(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Oct 24(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
Government & EthicsCriminal Justice