Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB41: Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection
Status: Signed into law, May 8, 2025
What the bill says
An act requiring a substituted or disqualified district court judge to follow a procedure that provides for the random selection of subsequent judges; defining random selection; requiring the office of the court administrator to establish the procedure; and providing effective dates.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REQUIRING A SUBSTITUTED OR DISQUALIFIED DISTRICT COURT JUDGE TO FOLLOW A PROCEDURE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE RANDOM SELECTION OF SUBSEQUENT JUDGES; DEFINING RANDOM SELECTION; REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR TO ESTABLISH THE PROCEDURE; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES. Section 1. Calling of subsequent district judges -- random selection. (1) When calling in subsequent district judges, a judge who has been substituted, disqualified for cause, or recused shall follow the procedure for the random selection of subsequent district judges as established by the office of the court administrator. (2) For the purposes of this section, "random selection" means a selection from a larger group by chance. The random selection of subsequent judges must include a mechanism to ensure that the subsequent district judge's judicial district is reasonably close geographically to the judicial district of the original judge while still remaining random. Section 2. Office of court administrator procedure. By October 1, 2025, the office of the court administrator shall establish a procedure for the random selection of subsequent district judges for a district court in which the initial judge has been substituted, disqualified for cause, or recused. The random selection of subsequent judges must include a mechanism to ensure that the subsequent district judge's judicial district is reasonably close geographically to the judicial district of the original judge …
Sponsors
- Emrich, Daniel (R, 11) · primary sponsor
- Sharp, Tracy (R, 12)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 11, 2025): 56 yea, 43 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 56 yea, 41 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 29, 2025): 32 yea, 17 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 28, 2025): 32 yea, 18 nay, passed
Subjects: Judges and Justices, Courts
Common questions
- What is SB41?
- SB41 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection.
- What does SB41 do?
- In its own words: An act requiring a substituted or disqualified district court judge to follow a procedure that provides for the random selection of subsequent judges; defining random selection; requiring the office of the court administrator to establish the procedure; and providing effective dates.
- What is the status of SB41?
- Signed into law as of May 8, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 8, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB41?
- Emrich, Daniel (R, 11), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB41?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1435
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.