Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB48: Generally revise laws relating to Judicial Standards Commission complaints
Status: Signed into law, May 13, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising complaint processes with the judicial standards commission to allow a citizen to make public the citizen's complaints concerning a judge at any time; and amending sections 3-1-1106 and 3-1-1123, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING COMPLAINT PROCESSES WITH THE JUDICIAL STANDARDS COMMISSION TO ALLOW A CITIZEN TO MAKE PUBLIC THE CITIZEN'S COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A JUDGE AT ANY TIME; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 3-1-1106 AND 3-1-1123, MCA. WHEREAS, the Judicial Standards Commission generally requires the complaint process against judicial officers to be confidential, including requiring confidentiality from the citizen making the complaint; and WHEREAS, the Legislature maintains that a citizen should not be forced to choose between filing a complaint against a judicial officer and the citizen's right of free speech concerning the alleged misconduct of the judicial officer. Section 1. Section 3-1-1106, MCA, is amended to read: "3-1-1106. Investigation of judicial officers -- complaint -- hearing -- recommendations. (1) (a) The commission, upon the filing of a written complaint by any citizen of the state, shall initiate an investigation of any judicial officer in the state to determine if there are grounds for conducting additional proceedings before the commission. If the commission's investigation indicates that additional proceedings before the commission may be justified, the commission shall require the citizen who filed the original written complaint to sign a verified written complaint by affidavit before conducting additional proceedings. A citizen has the right to make public the citizen's complaints concerning a judicial officer at any time. (b) The commission shall give the judicial officer …
Sponsors
- Glimm, Carl (R, 3) · primary sponsor
- Millett, Tom (R, 2)
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): 57 yea, 42 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 55 yea, 42 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 30, 2025): 30 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 29, 2025): 31 yea, 19 nay, passed
- AMD-SB0048.001.002 Smith D/PASS (January 29, 2025): 18 yea, 32 nay, failed
Subjects: Judges and Justices, Courts
Common questions
- What is SB48?
- SB48 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise laws relating to Judicial Standards Commission complaints.
- What does SB48 do?
- In its own words: An act revising complaint processes with the judicial standards commission to allow a citizen to make public the citizen's complaints concerning a judge at any time; and amending sections 3-1-1106 and 3-1-1123, mca.
- What is the status of SB48?
- Signed into law as of May 13, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 13, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB48?
- Glimm, Carl (R, 3), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB48?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0611
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.