Montana Supreme Court sides with media outlets in public meetings lawsuit
The state Supreme Court has upheld Montanans’ right to open government meetings and public disclosure concerning the governor’s appointment of replacement judges for state district court.
In an order issued Tuesday, a five-justice panel ruled in favor of the Choteau Acantha newspaper and Montana Free Press, who argued that an advisory council appointed by the governor erred by closing its proceedings while reviewing candidates for a 9th Judicial District judgeship in 2023.
Members of the advisory council argued that the judicial candidates had a right to privacy that outweighed the public’s right to know more about the applicants. The state Supreme Court disagreed, siding with an earlier decision by 1st District Court Judge Mike Menahan.
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