KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Montana

SB41 • 2025

Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection

Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Daniel Emrich
Last action
2025-05-08
Official status
Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection

Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection

What This Bill Does

  • Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

COMMITTEE

Plain English: Amendment - 1st Reading-white - Requested by: Daniel Emrich - (S) Judiciary - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Julianne Burkhardt, SB0041.001.001 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 41 1 SENATE BILL NO.

  • Amendment - 1st Reading-white - Requested by: Daniel Emrich - (S) Judiciary - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Julianne Burkhardt, SB0041.001.001 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 41 1 SENATE BILL NO.
  • 41 2 INTRODUCED BY D.
  • EMRICH 3 BY REQUEST OF THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT AND REFORM 4 5 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REQUIRING A SUBSTITUTED OR DISQUALIFIED DISTRICT 6 COURT JUDGE TO FOLLOW A PROCEDURE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE RANDOM SELECTION OF 7 SUBSEQUENT JUDGES; DEFINING "RANDOM SELECTION"; REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE COURT 8 ADMINISTRATOR TO ESTABLISH THE PROCEDURE; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES.” 9 10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: 11 12 NEW SECTION.
  • Section 1.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-08 SENATE

    Chapter Number Assigned

  2. 2025-05-05 SENATE

    (S) Signed by Governor

  3. 2025-04-25 HOUSE

    (H) Signed by Speaker

  4. 2025-04-25 SENATE

    (S) Transmitted to Governor

  5. 2025-04-21 SENATE

    (S) Signed by President

  6. 2025-04-12 SENATE

    (S) Returned from Enrolling

  7. 2025-04-11 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  8. 2025-04-11 HOUSE

    (H) 3rd Reading Concurred

  9. 2025-04-11 SENATE

    (S) Sent to Enrolling

  10. 2025-04-10 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  11. 2025-04-10 HOUSE

    (H) 2nd Reading Concurred

  12. 2025-04-08 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

  13. 2025-04-08 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred

  14. 2025-04-03 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  15. 2025-02-26 SENATE

    (S) Fiscal Note Printed

  16. 2025-02-25 SENATE

    (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned

  17. 2025-02-24 SENATE

    (S) Fiscal Note Received

  18. 2025-02-19 SENATE

    (S) Fiscal Note Requested

  19. 2025-02-18 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Requested

  20. 2025-01-30 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  21. 2025-01-30 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  22. 2025-01-29 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  23. 2025-01-29 SENATE

    (S) 3rd Reading Passed

  24. 2025-01-29 SENATE

    (S) Transmitted to House

  25. 2025-01-28 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  26. 2025-01-28 SENATE

    (S) 2nd Reading Passed

  27. 2025-01-24 SENATE

    (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

  28. 2025-01-23 SENATE

    (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

  29. 2025-01-10 SENATE

    (S) Hearing

  30. 2025-01-07 SENATE

    (S) Referred to Committee

  31. 2025-01-06 SENATE

    (S) First Reading

  32. 2024-12-12 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  33. 2024-12-12 SENATE

    (S) Introduced

  34. 2024-12-06 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  35. 2024-12-04 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  36. 2024-12-02 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  37. 2024-12-02 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  38. 2024-11-22 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  39. 2024-11-19 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  40. 2024-11-15 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 41
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 41
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT REQUIRING A SUBSTITUTED OR DISQUALIFIED DISTRICT COURT JUDGE TO FOLLOW A
PROCEDURE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE RANDOM SELECTION OF SUBSEQUENT JUDGES; DEFINING
RANDOM SELECTION; REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR TO ESTABLISH THE
PROCEDURE; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Calling of subsequent district judges -- random selection. (1) When calling in
subsequent district judges, a judge who has been substituted, disqualified for cause, or recused shall follow the
procedure for the random selection of subsequent district judges as established by the office of the court
administrator.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "random selection" means a selection from a larger group by
chance. The random selection of subsequent judges must include a mechanism to ensure that the subsequent
district judge's judicial district is reasonably close geographically to the judicial district of the original judge while
still remaining random.
Section 2. Office of court administrator procedure. By October 1, 2025, the office of the court
administrator shall establish a procedure for the random selection of subsequent district judges for a district
court in which the initial judge has been substituted, disqualified for cause, or recused. The random selection of
subsequent judges must include a mechanism to ensure that the subsequent district judge's judicial district is
reasonably close geographically to the judicial district of the original judge while still remaining random. The
office shall provide the procedure to all district court judges by October 15, 2025.
Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 41
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – SB 41
ENROLLED BILL
3, chapter 1, part 8, and the provisions of Title 3, chapter 1, part 8, apply to [section 1].
Section 4. Effective dates. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), [this act] is effective on passage
and approval.
(2) [Section 1] is effective October 1, 2025.
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
SB 41, originated in the Senate.
___________________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
SENATE BILL NO. 41
INTRODUCED BY D. EMRICH
BY REQUEST OF THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT AND REFORM
AN ACT REQUIRING A SUBSTITUTED OR DISQUALIFIED DISTRICT COURT JUDGE TO FOLLOW A
PROCEDURE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE RANDOM SELECTION OF SUBSEQUENT JUDGES; DEFINING
RANDOM SELECTION; REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR TO ESTABLISH THE
PROCEDURE; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES.