Members of the public are invited to serve on the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform, according to a news release last Friday from the Montana Legislature.
Senate President Jason Ellsworth (R-Hamilton) said on April 2, he is forming the committee to “look into overreach by Montana judges and develop solutions to restore the separation of powers among Montana’s three branches of government.”
“The Legislature is the branch of government closest to the people, so I’d love to have the people participate directly in this committee,” said Ellsworth. “If you have good insights to offer the Legislature as we look for reforms to address Montana’s out-of-control courts, please consider applying to serve on the committee.”
Any person who is not a current legislator or employee of the Legislature is invited to apply to serve on the select committee.
Ellsworth and other legislators who hold leadership positions have taken several actions recently to try and stop what they view as “intrusions” by state courts on the Legislature.
For example, Ellsworth last month challenged the decision in Forward Montana v. State of Montana (2024 MT 75), a case which alleged that Senate Bill 319 (2021) violated the state constitution. SB 319 consisted … Read Full Story online here.
