Special Committee To Investigate Judicial Emails Independently From Supreme Court

Governor Greg Gianforte and the Legislature are locked in a legal battle over a new law giving the governor sweeping powers to appoint judges. James Bradley from the University of Montana Legislative News Service reports Gianforte signed Senate Bill 140 in March and a bipartisan group for former state legislators challenged it. The Supreme Court will now decide on the case, which has sparked a series of leaked emails, judge recusals and the formation of a special committee investigating the judicial branch. House Majority Leader Sue Vinton said Monday the special committee will continue its investigation with or without the court’s cooperation while most joined the meeting virtually because of a COVID-19 case at the Capitol.