House Bill No. introduced by F. Nave, at the request of the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform, aims to amend Section 3-1-1101 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) regarding the composition of the Judicial Standards Commission. The bill establishes that a district court judge is prohibited from serving as the presiding officer of the commission, ensuring that the leadership of the commission is not held by a member who is also a judge.

This amendment is intended to enhance the impartiality and integrity of the commission by preventing potential conflicts of interest that may arise if a judge were to preside over a body that evaluates judicial conduct. The bill maintains the existing structure of the commission, which consists of five members, including two district court judges, one attorney, and two non-attorney citizens, all of whom are appointed and confirmed by various state officials.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-1-1101
HB0036_1(1): 3-1-1101
HB0036_1(2): 3-1-1101
HB0036_1(3): 3-1-1101
HB0036_1(4): 3-1-1101
HB0036_1(5): 3-1-1101
HB0036_1(6): 3-1-1101
HB0036_1: 3-1-1101