District Judge Dismisses New Challenge To Appointment Bill

District Court judge Mike McMahon has dismissed a lawsuit by former Democratic Representatives Tom Winter and Barbara Bessette challenging Montana’s new judicial appointment process. The case was the second attempt at taking down Senate Bill 140 passed by the GOP-dominated Legislature and signed by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte to abolish the Judicial Nomination Commission that once presented the governor with a short list of nominees to be selected for judicial appointment.