{"id":2414504,"date":"2025-03-24T12:40:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T16:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/montana-gop-wants-to-overhaul-state-judicial-system\/"},"modified":"2025-03-24T13:02:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T17:02:07","slug":"montana-gop-wants-to-overhaul-state-judicial-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/montana-gop-wants-to-overhaul-state-judicial-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Montana GOP wants to overhaul state judicial system"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmontana-gop-wants-to-overhaul-state-judicial-system%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2414504&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Republican lawmakers \u2062in Montana\u200c are proposing\u200b notable changes to the state&#8217;s judicial system in response to recent court rulings that they perceive as unfavorable, particularly concerning laws\u200b related to abortion and transgender issues.Frustrated by what they believe to be a liberal bias in \u2062the Montana Supreme Court and other lower courts, GOP \u2064leaders, including\u200c Senate majority Leader \u200btom McGillvray, \u2063plan \u200dto introduce around 30 bills aimed\u200d at reforming the judiciary. \u200dThis includes transitioning judicial elections from\u200b nonpartisan\u2063 to partisan and establishing a new court specifically for constitutional claims, with judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate.<\/p>\n<p>These efforts highlight deep-seated concerns among Republicans\u200b about the judiciary&#8217;s independence and it&#8217;s alignment with their legislative agenda. However, some former Republican officials warn against\u200c these drastic changes, \u200bsuggesting they \u200dcould\u200b undermine respect\u200d for the judicial system and politicize the selection of\u2064 judges. \u200bthe push \u2064for judicial reform in Montana reflects wider national trends where conservative lawmakers in various states are\u2063 challenging judicial decisions they\u2063 view as conflicting with their interests.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Montana GOP wants to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/netanyahu-suffers-loss-as-israeli-supreme-court-strikes-down-controversial-judicial-reform\/\" title=\"Netanyahu&#039;s ... rejected by Israeli Supreme ..., causing setback\">overhaul judicial system<\/a> after handful of conservative bills thrown out<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2073396\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Republican<\/a> state lawmakers in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/montana\/\">Montana<\/a> have grown frustrated by several unfavorable rulings being handed to them in recent years, so they are looking to entirely rethink the state&rsquo;s <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/courts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">judicial system<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While judicial elections and the courts in Montana are nonpartisan, Republicans in the state believe that the Montana Supreme Court and other <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">lower courts lean liberal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3356794\/trump-lawyer-alina-habba-us-attorney-new-jersey\/\">Trump lawyer Alina Habba named US attorney for New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3356760\/ncaa-wrestling-national-champion-never-forget-trump-historic-victory\/\">NCAA wrestling national champion will never forget Trump&#8217;s presence at &#8216;historic&#8217; victory<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3356720\/trump-louisiana-governor-tout-20-billion-investment-hyundai\/\">Trump and Louisiana governor to tout $20 billion investment by Hyundai<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The Montana Supreme Court is one of the most liberal courts in the nation, so you have to wonder as a legislator, are the courts being biased?&rdquo; state Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray said. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got a de facto executive branch in the judicial branch, and that&rsquo;s precipitated a lot of angst.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The state&rsquo;s judicial elections have been nonpartisan since 1935, but these changes would make them partisan races. Another bill would create an entirely new court to rule on constitutional claims, and those judges would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Montana Senate.<\/p>\n<p>These are some of the 30 bills the Montana legislature is considering aimed at reshaping the state judiciary.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;After today, our message to the judiciary is simply this: Buckle up,&rdquo; incoming Senate President Matt Regier and incoming House Speaker Brandon Ler said in December 2024.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, Montana has seen a number of GOP-backed laws thrown out by the courts, notably on abortion- and transgender-related issues.<\/p>\n<p>The first bill that will see a floor hearing is House Bill 39, which would remove a financial barrier between judicial candidates and political parties as judicial candidates are currently barred from accepting money from political parties.<\/p>\n<p>Nearly all judges in Montana are elected, not appointed, and they are not required to provide a party affiliation, so it is difficult to measure their political leanings. Democratic lawmakers, who are in the minority in the statehouse, have defended the courts and judges.<\/p>\n<p>Similar measures have popped up in other states. Kansas Republicans have grown frustrated with their judicial system after a court ruling that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-supreme-court-set-to-overturn-roe-v-wade\/\" title=\"Report: Supreme ... Set To Overturn Roe v. Wade\">affirmed abortion rights<\/a> in the state, so they approved a ballot question for August 2026 that asked voters to amend the state constitution and to allow Kansas Supreme Court justices to be elected, not chosen by their long-standing merit-based system.<\/p>\n<p>In no other state, however, has there been the volume of bills like Montana.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3355766\/democratic-attorneys-general-resistance-trump-2-0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEYS GENERAL EMERGE AS SOME OF THE ONLY REAL RESISTANCE AGAINST TRUMP 2.0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some former Republican officials in the state have sounded the alarm on the push. Marc Racicot, the state&rsquo;s former Republican governor and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ariz-attorney-general-calls-on-biden-to-replace-dhs-secy-mayorkas\/\" title=\"Ariz. Attorney General calls on Biden to replace DHS Secy. Mayorkas\">attorney general called<\/a> the push &ldquo;very shortsighted and very immature.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s just that damn dangerous, in my view,&rdquo; Racicot <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/24\/us\/montana-republican-judicial-legislation.html\">told<\/a> the <em>New York Times.<\/em> &ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t have a healthy respect for the system, then you&rsquo;re going to end up cavalierly questioning everything dangerously. They want to take over control of the bar association, the discipline of lawyers, the selection of judges &mdash; they want to infuse politics.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2073396\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2073396\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Montana GOP seeks to reform judicial system after recent rulings<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2414505,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/montana-state-capitoll.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[51984,51983,7417,41726],"class_list":["post-2414504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-judicial-system","tag-montana-gop","tag-overhaul","tag-state-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/montana-state-capitoll.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2414504"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2414521,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414504\/revisions\/2414521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2414505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2414504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2414504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2414504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}