Bill > HB840

This bill creates a nine-member Judicial Branch Independence Investigation Committee composed of five representatives from the House and four senators, appointed by the House Speaker and Senate President respectively, to investigate district court judges and supreme court justices. The committee's purpose is to assess judicial independence and the quality of judicial rulings, with the authority to establish evaluation standards and conduct investigations. The committee will report its findings to the law and justice interim committee and disseminate information through various means. The legislative services division will provide staff support, and committee members will receive standard legislative salary and expenses. The committee is funded with a $400,000 appropriation for investigative work and $73,000 for member reimbursements, covering the biennium ending June 30, 2027. The bill includes contingent voidness provisions, meaning it will be nullified if no appropriation is made or if the appropriation is vetoed without an override. The committee will be effective from July 1, 2025, and will terminate on December 31, 2028, with the stipulation that it cannot meet during regular legislative sessions.

Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1741