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Senate panel backs creation of Montana Government Claims Court amid sharp debate
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 385 to the full Senate after a long hearing with supporters who said a specialty court would relieve overloaded district dockets and opponents who warned of cost, appointment power and constitutional risk.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 385, authorizing a new Montana Government Claims Court intended to hear constitutional challenges to state action, administrative appeals and asbestos claims.
Sponsor Sen. Tom McGillivray introduced the bill, citing constitutional authority in Article VII and arguing the specialty court would remove complex civil cases from crowded district courts. "Senate Bill 385, which is an act creating the Montana government claims court," McGillivray told the committee in opening remarks, and he said the new court would use three appointed judges whose salaries would be set higher than current Supreme Court pay to attract experienced jurists.
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