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Zephyr says judiciary fights and decorum suit point to broader push to politicize courts
Summary
Representative Zoe Zephyr discussed a prior incident where she was blocked from the floor for decorum, the ensuing legal challenge that a judge declared moot, and broader Republican efforts she described to politicize the judiciary in Montana.
An audience member asked Representative Zoe Zephyr about a previous decorum ruling that prevented her from speaking on the House floor and a subsequent suit she brought; a judge declared the case moot, the audience member said. Zephyr said the ruling did not end the issue and called for continued legal challenges and efforts to protect nonpartisan judges.
"We have to bring those suits, fight...and we need to make sure that we are fighting for non partisan judges within the state," Zephyr said. She described a Republican priority pushed by Governor Greg Gianforte and others to politicize judicial elections — a bid the Democratic side worked to stop in the recent session, she said.
Zephyr outlined additional legal obstacles she sees in proposed legislation, including a measure that would require challenges to laws to be heard in the district of the legislator who proposed them — a change she said would make it harder to sue where the harm occurs. "I'm pretty confident that will be struck down, but we have to bring those suits," she said.
Why it matters: Zephyr framed the judiciary fights as central to preserving the ability of legislators and citizens to raise constitutional claims in appropriate forums and as a wider element of partisan strategy.
The exchange occurred during audience Q&A at a Western Montana DSA event.
