3-1-610. Restrictions on judicial officers presiding over matters in which they have previously asserted position. (1) This section applies to all judicial officers, as defined in 1-1-202.
(2) Judicial officers may not participate in any action or proceeding involving the constitutionality of a provision of a bill if:
(a) the judicial officer has appeared before the Montana legislature or otherwise contacted a legislator or another governmental entity in support or opposition of a bill involving the same legislation if it is at issue in a case in which the judicial officer presides;
(b) the judicial officer has served on a committee or group designed to evaluate legislation when the committee or group expressed support or opposition on a bill during the judicial officer's service on the committee or other group and a case involving the same legislation is pending before the judicial officer; or
(c) the judicial officer has publicly supported or opposed an issue or bill at the request of the Montana judges association or another entity and a case involving the legislation is pending before the judicial officer.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 456, L. 2021.