House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes a significant change to the election and appointment process for Supreme Court justices in Montana by requiring that justices be elected from specific districts rather than at large. The bill establishes seven Supreme Court judicial districts, each corresponding to various counties in the state, and mandates that one justice be selected from each district. This change aims to enhance voter familiarity with candidates and ensure that justices have a better understanding of local issues. The bill also includes provisions for a transition period, ensuring that current justices are not removed from office during their elected terms and allowing them to seek reelection in their assigned districts.

Additionally, the bill amends existing legal language in Sections 3-2-101 and 13-14-211 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Notably, it replaces the requirement for justices to be elected "by the qualified electors of the state at large" with a requirement for election "in a separate district by the qualified electors in that district." The bill also outlines a process for the chief justice to assign current justices to their respective districts and includes provisions for severability and applicability to future terms beginning after the effective date of the act.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-2-101, 13-14-211
HB0646_1(1): 3-2-101, 13-14-211
HB0646_1(2): 3-2-101, 13-14-211
HB0646_1(3): 3-2-101, 13-14-211
HB0646_1: 3-2-101, 13-14-211