Bill > SB66

This bill revises and expands definitions related to judicial procedures and officers in Montana's legal code. It introduces several new defined terms, including "bias" (which is described as a prejudice arising from reasons other than case facts or law, and can be inferred from comments, expressions, or conflicts of interest), "conflict of interest" (involving financial, political, or other interests that potentially create bias), "impartiality" (making judicial decisions fairly and without bias), and "open-mindedness" (a willingness to consider opposing views, remain persuadable, acknowledge potential personal bias, and treat cases based on facts and law). The bill also updates the definition of "judicial officers" to include additional roles like water court judges, standing masters, and administrative judges/hearing examiners. Additionally, the bill makes minor technical changes to existing definitions, such as replacing "upon" with "on" in several instances, and reorganizes the existing definitions into a more comprehensive and structured format. These changes aim to provide clearer guidance on judicial conduct, expectations, and professional standards.

Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1783