The bill proposes significant changes to the appointment and responsibilities of the Clerk of the Supreme Court in Montana. It mandates that the Clerk be appointed by a majority of the Supreme Court justices, rather than being elected by the public, and establishes that the Clerk serves at the pleasure of the Court. Additionally, the bill eliminates the Clerk's authority to appoint a Deputy Clerk. Several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) are amended to reflect these changes, including the repeal of the section concerning the Deputy Clerk.

Furthermore, the bill amends various sections of the MCA to remove references to the Clerk of the Supreme Court in contexts where the position was previously elected or involved in filling vacancies. The effective date for these changes is set for January 6, 2031, with the new appointment process applying to any vacancies that occur after the current officeholder's term ends. The bill aims to streamline the administrative structure of the Supreme Court by centralizing the appointment of the Clerk within the Court itself.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 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