I N THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF M N A A O T N
O R D E R
RE: RULES OF THE SUPREm COURT
-- - -
PER CURIAM:
P u r s u a n t t o t h e power p l a c e d i n t h i s C o u r t by
Article VII, S e c t i o n 2, o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n of t h e S t a t e of
Montana, t h e C o u r t h a s u n d e r t a k e n a s t u d y w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o
t h e d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n and s u b s t i t u t i o n o f judges. The C o u r t
now p r o p o s e s t o a d o p t t h e f o l l o w i n g r u l e :
DISQUALIFICATION OF JUDGES
Any j u s t i c e , judge, o r j u s t i c e o f t h e p e a c e must
n o t s i t o r act i n any a c t i o n o r proceeding:
1. To w h i c h he i s a p a r t y , o r i n w h i c h h e i s
interested;
2. When h e i s r e l a t e d t o e i t h e r p a r t y by c o n s a g u i n -
ity L o r a f f i n i t y w i t h i n t h e s i x t h d e g r e e , computed a c c o r d i n y
t o t h e r u l e s o f law;
3. When h e h a s b e e n a t t o r n e y o r c o u n s e l i n t h e
a c t i o n o r p r o c e e d i n g f o r a n y p a r t y o r when h e r e n d e r e d o r
made t h e j u d g m e n t , o r d e r o r d e c i s i o n a p p e a l e d from.
SUBSTITUTION OF JUDGES
A m o t i o n f o r a s u b s t i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e may be made
by a n y p a r t y t o a D i s t r i c t C o u r t p r o c e e d i n g . I n a civil.
c a s e , e a c h a d v e r s e p a r t y i s e n t i t l e d t o two s u b s t i t u t i a n s o f
a judge. I n a c r i m i n a l c a s e , t h e s t a t e and e a c h d e f e n d a n t
i s e n t i t l e d t o one s u b s t j t u t i o n o f a judge.
A m o t i o n f o r s u b s t i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e s h a l l . b e made by f i i . i n g a w r i t t e n m o t i o n f o r s u b s t i t u t . i i ? n r e a d i n g a s
follows: "The u n d e r s i g n e d h e r e b y moves f o r s u b s t i t . u t i o n o f
a n o t h e r j u d g e f o r J u d g e --. - i n t h i s cause." The c l e r k of c o u r t s h a l l immediately g i v e n o t i c e t h e r e o f to a l l p a r t i e s a n d t o t h e j u d g e named i n t h e m o t i o n . Upon f i i i n g
t h i s notice, t h e j u d g e named i n t h e m o t i o n s h a l l h a v e no
f u r t h e r power t o a c t i n t-he c a u s e o t h e r t h a n t o c a l l i n
anot.her judge, which h e s h a l l d o f o r t h w i t h , a n d to s e t t h e
calendar.
Where more t h a n o n e d i . s y u a l i f i c a t . i o n i s made, the
j u d g e m o s t r e c e n t l y d i s q u a l i f i e d s h a l l h a v e t h e power t o
c a l l i n a s u c c e s s o r judge,
When a c a s e i s f i l e d i n a m u l t i - j u d g e district:, i t
s h a l i b e t h e d u t y of t h e c l e r k o f c o u r t t o s t a m p t h e name of
t h e j u d g e t o w h i c h t h e c a s e i s a s s i q n e d on t h e f a c e o f t h e
summons, o r d e r t o show c a u s e , o r i n f o r n i a t i o n a n d a l l c o p i e s
therenf.
Whenever a j u d g e i s a s s i . g n e d a c a s e f o r ten, con-
s e c ~i1.w d a y s a n d t h e a t c c i r n e y s of r e c o r d o n b o t h s i d e s h a v e ~ t
knowiedge of t h e assj.gnment f o r t h a t p e r i o d o f t i m e , a n d
i f d r ~ r i n qt h i ~ st i m e no motion. f o r s u b s t . i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e
i.s f i l t d a g a i n s t him, a l l r i g h t s t o move f o r s u b s t i t u t i o n o f
a j u d g e s h a l l b e deemed w a i v e d by a l l p a r t i e s , u n l e s s t h e
p r e s i d i n g j u d g e d i s q u a l . i f i e s h i m s e l f t h e r e a f t e r i n which
c a s e t h e r i g h t t o move f o r s u b s t i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e i s r e i n s t a t e d
a n d t h e t e n - d a y p e r i o d s t a r t s r u n n i n g anew.
Whenever a n a c c e p t a n c e o f j u r i s d i - c t i o n i s f i l e d
by a new j u d g e , i t s h a l l be t h e d u t y of t h e c l e r k of c o u r t t o n1ai.L a c o p y o f t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f j u r i s d i - c - t i o n t o t h e o r i g i . n a l
j u d ~ e w h cf i r s t h a d j u r i s i i i c t i o n o f t h e c a s e , a n d a copy by
c e r t i f i e d m a i l w i t h r e t u r n rec:eipt r e q u e s t e d t o each a t t o r n e y
o f record. S e r v i c e t o a n a t t o r n e y may b e made by d e l i v e r y
of a copy p e r s o n a l l y t ) t h e a t t o r n e y , o r b y o b t a i n i n g a c
w r i t t e n r e c e i p t from t h e a t t o r n e y . Proof of s e r v i c e s h a l l
b e s t a p i e d t o t h e a c c e p t a n c e (if j u r j . s d i c t i o n i.n !-.he f i l e .
The c:Lerk o f c o u r t sha1.l c o n t a c t t i l e new j u d g e a c c e p t i n g
j u r i s d i - c t i o n a n d r c y u e s t t h a t j u d g e t o comrnunica te w i l l 1 t i l e
judqe having jurisdictiion i n the f i r s t instance, so that
calendaring can be e x p e d i t i o u s l y handied.
When a new t r i a l . i s o r d e r e d i.n a n y c a s e , w h i e t l h e r
b y o r d e r o f t h e D i s t r i . c t C o u r t o r t h e Supreme C o u r t , e a c h
a d v e r s e p a r t y s h a l l be e n t i t - l e d t o f i l e one motion f o r sub-
s t i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e i n t h e manner p r o v i d e d h e r e i n , whet:her
o r not. t h a t p a r t y h a s p r e v i . n u s l y f i l e d n i o t i o n s f o r subst.i.i;u-
t i o n of a j u d g e . Such m o t i o n s m u s t b e f i l e d :
a. I f t-he new t r i a l h a s b e e n o r d e r e d by t h e D i s -
trj-ct Court, w i t h i n t e n days a f t e r t h e t i m e f o r appealing
the order has elapsed.
b. I f t h e new t r i a l h a s b e e n o r d e r e d by t h e
Supreme C o u r t , w i t h i n t e n d a y s a f t e r n o t i c e o f r e c e i p t o f
t h e r e m i t t i t u r h a s b e e n r e c e i v e d by t h e r e s p e c t i v e p a r t i " e s
from t h e c l e r k o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t .
DISQUALIFICATION FOR CAUSE
Whenever a p a r t y t o a n y p r o c e e d i n g i n a n y Court:
makes a n d f i l e s a t i m e l y a n d s u f f i c i e n t a f f i d a v i t t h a t a
j u d g e o r j u s t i c e o f t h e p e a c e b e f o r e whom t h e m a t t e r i s
p e n d i n g h a s a p e r s o n a . 1 b i a s o r p r e j u d i c e e i t h e r a g a i n s t . him
o r i n f a v o r o f a n y a d v e r s e p a r t y , s u c h j u d g e or j u s t i c e of
t h e peace s h a l l proceed no f u r t h e r t h e r e i n , b u t i n t h e c a s e of a d i s t r i c t j u d g e , a n o t h e r d i s t r i c t j u d g e s h a l l b e a s s i g n e d
by tlze chi.ef j u s t i . c e o f t h e Supreme C o u r t t o h e a r s u c h d i s -
~ 1 u a l i f i . c a t i o n r t i c e e d i n g a n d i n t h e case a n a f f i d a v i t i s p
a g a i n s t a j u s t i c e of t h e peace, p o l i c e o r municipal judqe,
a n y d i . s t r i c t j u d g e may a p p o i n t . a n o t h e r j u s t i c e o f t h e p e a c e ,
p o l i c e o r m u n i c i p a l judge t o h e a r such p r o c e e d i n g . The
a f f i d a v i t s h a l l s t a t . e t h e f a c t s a n d t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e be-
l i e f t h a t b i a s o r p r e j u d i - c e e x i s t s , and s h a l l b e f i l e d n o t
l e s s t h a n t w e n t y d a y s b e f o r e t h e o r i g i n a l . d a t e of t r i a l , or
good c a u s e shai.1.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
I N THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF M N A A O T N
O R D E R
RE: RULES OF THE SUPREm COURT
-- - -
PER CURIAM:
P u r s u a n t t o t h e power p l a c e d i n t h i s C o u r t by
Article VII, S e c t i o n 2, o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n of t h e S t a t e of
Montana, t h e C o u r t h a s u n d e r t a k e n a s t u d y w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o
t h e d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n and s u b s t i t u t i o n o f judges. The C o u r t
now p r o p o s e s t o a d o p t t h e f o l l o w i n g r u l e :
DISQUALIFICATION OF JUDGES
Any j u s t i c e , judge, o r j u s t i c e o f t h e p e a c e must
n o t s i t o r act i n any a c t i o n o r proceeding:
1. To w h i c h he i s a p a r t y , o r i n w h i c h h e i s
interested;
2. When h e i s r e l a t e d t o e i t h e r p a r t y by c o n s a g u i n -
ity L o r a f f i n i t y w i t h i n t h e s i x t h d e g r e e , computed a c c o r d i n y
t o t h e r u l e s o f law;
3. When h e h a s b e e n a t t o r n e y o r c o u n s e l i n t h e
a c t i o n o r p r o c e e d i n g f o r a n y p a r t y o r when h e r e n d e r e d o r
made t h e j u d g m e n t , o r d e r o r d e c i s i o n a p p e a l e d from.
SUBSTITUTION OF JUDGES
A m o t i o n f o r a s u b s t i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e may be made
by a n y p a r t y t o a D i s t r i c t C o u r t p r o c e e d i n g . I n a civil.
c a s e , e a c h a d v e r s e p a r t y i s e n t i t l e d t o two s u b s t i t u t i a n s o f
a judge. I n a c r i m i n a l c a s e , t h e s t a t e and e a c h d e f e n d a n t
i s e n t i t l e d t o one s u b s t j t u t i o n o f a judge.
A m o t i o n f o r s u b s t i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e s h a l l . b e made by f i i . i n g a w r i t t e n m o t i o n f o r s u b s t i t u t . i i ? n r e a d i n g a s
follows: "The u n d e r s i g n e d h e r e b y moves f o r s u b s t i t . u t i o n o f
a n o t h e r j u d g e f o r J u d g e --. - i n t h i s cause." The c l e r k of c o u r t s h a l l immediately g i v e n o t i c e t h e r e o f to a l l p a r t i e s a n d t o t h e j u d g e named i n t h e m o t i o n . Upon f i i i n g
t h i s notice, t h e j u d g e named i n t h e m o t i o n s h a l l h a v e no
f u r t h e r power t o a c t i n t-he c a u s e o t h e r t h a n t o c a l l i n
anot.her judge, which h e s h a l l d o f o r t h w i t h , a n d to s e t t h e
calendar.
Where more t h a n o n e d i . s y u a l i f i c a t . i o n i s made, the
j u d g e m o s t r e c e n t l y d i s q u a l i f i e d s h a l l h a v e t h e power t o
c a l l i n a s u c c e s s o r judge,
When a c a s e i s f i l e d i n a m u l t i - j u d g e district:, i t
s h a l i b e t h e d u t y of t h e c l e r k o f c o u r t t o s t a m p t h e name of
t h e j u d g e t o w h i c h t h e c a s e i s a s s i q n e d on t h e f a c e o f t h e
summons, o r d e r t o show c a u s e , o r i n f o r n i a t i o n a n d a l l c o p i e s
therenf.
Whenever a j u d g e i s a s s i . g n e d a c a s e f o r ten, con-
s e c ~i1.w d a y s a n d t h e a t c c i r n e y s of r e c o r d o n b o t h s i d e s h a v e ~ t
knowiedge of t h e assj.gnment f o r t h a t p e r i o d o f t i m e , a n d
i f d r ~ r i n qt h i ~ st i m e no motion. f o r s u b s t . i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e
i.s f i l t d a g a i n s t him, a l l r i g h t s t o move f o r s u b s t i t u t i o n o f
a j u d g e s h a l l b e deemed w a i v e d by a l l p a r t i e s , u n l e s s t h e
p r e s i d i n g j u d g e d i s q u a l . i f i e s h i m s e l f t h e r e a f t e r i n which
c a s e t h e r i g h t t o move f o r s u b s t i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e i s r e i n s t a t e d
a n d t h e t e n - d a y p e r i o d s t a r t s r u n n i n g anew.
Whenever a n a c c e p t a n c e o f j u r i s d i - c t i o n i s f i l e d
by a new j u d g e , i t s h a l l be t h e d u t y of t h e c l e r k of c o u r t t o n1ai.L a c o p y o f t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f j u r i s d i - c - t i o n t o t h e o r i g i . n a l
j u d ~ e w h cf i r s t h a d j u r i s i i i c t i o n o f t h e c a s e , a n d a copy by
c e r t i f i e d m a i l w i t h r e t u r n rec:eipt r e q u e s t e d t o each a t t o r n e y
o f record. S e r v i c e t o a n a t t o r n e y may b e made by d e l i v e r y
of a copy p e r s o n a l l y t ) t h e a t t o r n e y , o r b y o b t a i n i n g a c
w r i t t e n r e c e i p t from t h e a t t o r n e y . Proof of s e r v i c e s h a l l
b e s t a p i e d t o t h e a c c e p t a n c e (if j u r j . s d i c t i o n i.n !-.he f i l e .
The c:Lerk o f c o u r t sha1.l c o n t a c t t i l e new j u d g e a c c e p t i n g
j u r i s d i - c t i o n a n d r c y u e s t t h a t j u d g e t o comrnunica te w i l l 1 t i l e
judqe having jurisdictiion i n the f i r s t instance, so that
calendaring can be e x p e d i t i o u s l y handied.
When a new t r i a l . i s o r d e r e d i.n a n y c a s e , w h i e t l h e r
b y o r d e r o f t h e D i s t r i . c t C o u r t o r t h e Supreme C o u r t , e a c h
a d v e r s e p a r t y s h a l l be e n t i t - l e d t o f i l e one motion f o r sub-
s t i t u t i o n o f a j u d g e i n t h e manner p r o v i d e d h e r e i n , whet:her
o r not. t h a t p a r t y h a s p r e v i . n u s l y f i l e d n i o t i o n s f o r subst.i.i;u-
t i o n of a j u d g e . Such m o t i o n s m u s t b e f i l e d :
a. I f t-he new t r i a l h a s b e e n o r d e r e d by t h e D i s -
trj-ct Court, w i t h i n t e n days a f t e r t h e t i m e f o r appealing
the order has elapsed.
b. I f t h e new t r i a l h a s b e e n o r d e r e d by t h e
Supreme C o u r t , w i t h i n t e n d a y s a f t e r n o t i c e o f r e c e i p t o f
t h e r e m i t t i t u r h a s b e e n r e c e i v e d by t h e r e s p e c t i v e p a r t i " e s
from t h e c l e r k o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t .
DISQUALIFICATION FOR CAUSE
Whenever a p a r t y t o a n y p r o c e e d i n g i n a n y Court:
makes a n d f i l e s a t i m e l y a n d s u f f i c i e n t a f f i d a v i t t h a t a
j u d g e o r j u s t i c e o f t h e p e a c e b e f o r e whom t h e m a t t e r i s
p e n d i n g h a s a p e r s o n a . 1 b i a s o r p r e j u d i c e e i t h e r a g a i n s t . him
o r i n f a v o r o f a n y a d v e r s e p a r t y , s u c h j u d g e or j u s t i c e of
t h e peace s h a l l proceed no f u r t h e r t h e r e i n , b u t i n t h e c a s e of a d i s t r i c t j u d g e , a n o t h e r d i s t r i c t j u d g e s h a l l b e a s s i g n e d
by tlze chi.ef j u s t i . c e o f t h e Supreme C o u r t t o h e a r s u c h d i s -
~ 1 u a l i f i . c a t i o n r t i c e e d i n g a n d i n t h e case a n a f f i d a v i t i s p
a g a i n s t a j u s t i c e of t h e peace, p o l i c e o r municipal judqe,
a n y d i . s t r i c t j u d g e may a p p o i n t . a n o t h e r j u s t i c e o f t h e p e a c e ,
p o l i c e o r m u n i c i p a l judge t o h e a r such p r o c e e d i n g . The
a f f i d a v i t s h a l l s t a t . e t h e f a c t s a n d t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e be-
l i e f t h a t b i a s o r p r e j u d i - c e e x i s t s , and s h a l l b e f i l e d n o t
l e s s t h a n t w e n t y d a y s b e f o r e t h e o r i g i n a l . d a t e of t r i a l , or
good c a u s e shai.1. b e shown f o r f a i l u r e t o f i l e i.t w i . t h i n s u c h
time. I t s h a l l b e a c c o m p a n i e d by a c e r t i f i c a t e o f c o u n s e 3
o f r e c o r d s t a t i n g t h a t i t h a s b e e n made i n good f a i t h .
None o f t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s r u l e s h a l l a p p i y t.0
any p e r s o n i n any c a u s e i n v o l v i n g a d i r e c t contempt of
court. . When a p e r s o n :i.s c h a r g e d w i t h i n d i r e c t c o n t e m p t . o f
c o u r - t , he s h a l l b e e n t i t l e d t c i f i l e o n e m o t i o n f o r s u b s t i t - u -
t i o n o f a j u d g e i n t h e manner p r o v . i d e d h e r e i n , w h e t h e r o r
n o t t h a t p a r t y h a s previou:;ly f i l e d motions f o r substilrution
o f a judge. S u c h a moti.on m u s t b e f i . l e d . w i t h i . n t.en d a y s o f
tile charge o f i n d i r e c t contempt of c o u r t . I n t h a t event,
t h e judge o f t h e c o u r t a g a i n s t which t h e contempt i s a i i e q e d
t o h a v e b e e n cornmitt-ed s h a l l n o t i f y t h e c h i e f j u s t i c e o f t h e
Supreme C o u r t who s h a l l a p p o i n t a n o t h e r d i s t r i c t j u d q e t o
h e a r and d e c i d e t h e c h a r g e .
T h i s r u l e s u p e r s e d e s a n d i s t o b e u s e d t o khe e x -
c l u s i o n o f s e c t i o n s 93-901, 93-2906 (4)' 93-2907, 93-6602 ( 2 )
a n d 95-1709, R.C.M. 1947. P u r s u a n t t o A r + i c l e VII, S e c t i o n
2 , of t h e 1 9 7 2 Montana C o n s t i t . u t i o n .
I t i s t h e i n t e n t i o n of t h e C o u r t t o make t h i s r u l e
e f f e c t i v e o n t-he 1st d a y o f J u l y , 1 9 8 1 , a n d i t i s t o a p p l y
t o a l l a c t i o n s f i l e d on u r a f t e r t h a t d a t e . i n o r d e r t h a t members o f t h e b e n c h a n d b a r may
h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o f a m i l i a r i z e t h e m s e l v e s wi.th t h e ru1.e
-- I T I S ORDERED t h a t a c o p y o f t h i s o r d e r b e p u b ] - i s h e d i n The
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