Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant changes to the appointment and role of the Clerk of the Supreme Court in Montana. The bill mandates that the Clerk be appointed by a majority of the Supreme Court justices, rather than being elected by the public. Additionally, the Clerk will serve at the pleasure of the Court, which means their position is no longer guaranteed for a fixed term. The bill also eliminates the Clerk's authority to appoint a Deputy Clerk and repeals the section of law that previously allowed for this appointment.

Furthermore, the bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, including the removal of the Clerk from the list of elected officials whose salaries are determined by a salary survey. It also updates the language regarding the Clerk's office to clarify that the position is appointed rather than elected. The effective date for these changes is set for January 6, 2031, and the bill specifies that it applies to vacancies occurring after the current officeholder's term ends.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-16-111, 2-16-405, 2-16-505, 3-2-401, 13-12-207, 13-16-504
SB0332_1(1): 2-16-111, 2-16-405, 2-16-505, 3-2-401, 13-12-207, 13-16-504
SB0332_1: 2-16-111, 2-16-405, 2-16-505, 3-2-401, 13-12-207, 13-16-504