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MT HB751

Bill

Status

Failed

5/20/2025

Primary Sponsor

Lukas Schubert

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2025 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Montana Supreme Court justices and the chief justice would be nominated and elected on partisan ballots, changing from the current nonpartisan system
  • Candidates who do not file with a political party must appear on the ballot as "Undisclosed," and only one undisclosed candidate may advance to the general election
  • Supreme Court candidates may accept political endorsements and contributions from political parties, which is currently prohibited for nonpartisan judicial candidates
  • Incumbent justices running unopposed would still face retention elections with a yes/no vote, but their political party designation must be included on the ballot
  • Applies to Supreme Court and chief justice elections occurring after the effective date; does not affect district court judges or justices of the peace, which remain nonpartisan

Legislative Description

Partisan election of supreme court candidates

Elections

Last Action

(H) Died in Process

5/20/2025

Committee Referrals

Judiciary2/25/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available