Senate Bill No. introduced by M. Noland aims to revise and clarify terms related to judicial officers in Montana law. The bill amends Section 1-1-202 of the Montana Code Annotated to include new definitions and refine existing ones. Key insertions include a more detailed definition of "bias," which now encompasses various indicators such as comments and conflicts of interest, as well as a definition of "conflict of interest" that highlights the potential for bias. Additionally, the bill introduces the concept of "open-mindedness," which emphasizes the importance of considering opposing views and remaining receptive to persuasion in judicial decision-making.

The bill also updates the terminology surrounding judicial officers, expanding the definition to include administrative judges or hearing examiners, while removing references to city judges and standing masters. Other definitions, such as "deposition" and "oral examination," have been slightly modified for clarity. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the understanding of judicial conduct and ensure that judicial officers operate with impartiality and fairness in their roles.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 1-1-202
SB0066_1(1): 1-1-202
SB0066_1(2): 1-1-202
SB0066_1(3): 1-1-202
SB0066_1(4): 1-1-202
SB0066_1(5): 1-1-202
SB0066_1(6): 1-1-202
SB0066_1: 1-1-202