U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s leaked draft document on a case could potentially overturn Roe versus Wade and national protections for abortions. Former UM Law Professor and constitutional scholar Rob Natelson recently on Voices of Montana recounted a time in Montana when a leaked document from the Montana Supreme Court may have det...
Montana Senators Split On Abortion Act Vote
A vote on the “Women’s Health Protection Act” which would codify legal abortion protections is expected to take place in the Senate today. Tuesday, Senator Steve Daines, founder and chair of the Pro-Life Caucus, spoke on the floor voicing his support for a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion which would overturn Roe v. Wade. Also Tuesday, du...
U.S. Supreme Court Declines Case Between Montana Govt. Branches
The U.S. Supreme Court denied the Montana Legislature’s bid Monday to reverse a ruling by the state Supreme Court in last year’s subpoena showdown between the two branches of state government. It marks the end of a legal conflict that began as lawmakers raised concerns about internal polling of judges on pending legislation. The na...
U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Case On Indian Child Welfare Act
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that challenges the Indian Child Welfare Act which establishes federal standards for the placement of Indigenous children in foster or adoptive homes. Montana tribes defending ICWA’s constitutionality include the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, Blackfeet Nation, Chippewa Cree Tribe, Crow Nation, Fort...
AG Knudsen Comments On Request To Reinstate Abortion Laws
As lawmakers prepare for the U.S. Supreme Court to weaken or void its landmark Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision, Nick Ehli with Kaiser Health News reports the right to privacy is written into Montana’s constitution so, even if Roe v. Wade is overturned, it wouldn’t affect the Treasure State. Attorney General Austin Knudsen has asked ...
Montana Supreme Court Administrator Asks U.S. Supreme Court To Deny Appeal
Attorneys for Montana Supreme Court administrator Beth McLaughlin are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to deny an appeal from the Montana Legislature after the state Supreme Court found lawmakers overstepped their authority when they subpoenaed judicial branch records. Lawmakers argue the justices violated their due process rights in their ruling...
Governor Gianforte Expresses Support For State Legislature In Pending Lawsuit
Last December, the state Legislature appealed a state Supreme Court ruling that found lawmakers overstepped their authority when they subpoenaed judicial branch records to the U.S. Supreme Court focusing on whether the justices had the authority to rule on a subpoena for their own communications. Monday, Governor Greg Gianforte argued in a bri...
AG Knudsen Weighs In On Upcoming Supreme Court Hearing On Vaccine Mandates
It’s been announced the U.S. Supreme Court will hear legal challenges in the new year to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined other attorneys general in blocking them and recently on Voices of Montana shared what he thinks the justices should ultimately consider. https://north...
Montana Legislature Appeals Subpoena Case To Supreme Court
Yesterday, the Montana Legislature and State Attorney General Austin Knudsen appealed a Montana Supreme Court decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying that state justices should have excused themselves from a ruling on legislative attempts to acquire internal court documents. This comes following their ruling that the lawmakers did not have ...
Evictions To Resume In Major Montana Population Areas
The Supreme Court will allow evictions to resume across the country blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Montana Legal Services Association eligible renters in 39 of Montana’s 56 counties and all of the state’s major population centers will ...