MT SB30

Prohibits judicial officers from using the "rule of necessity" to avoid recusal when other judges with less immediate or less significant conflicts of interest are available to serve as substitutes

Amends Section 3-1-611, MCA, which governs judicial conflict of interest and recusal procedures

Existing law already requires judicial recusal when a party or attorney contributed the maximum allowable amount to the judge's campaign within the previous 6 years

Existing law also requires recusal when contributions exceeding $10,000 (supreme court) or $5,000 (other courts) were made to political committees supporting the judge or opposing their opponent within 6 years

Introduced by Senator T. McGillvray at the request of the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform