Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Judicial Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears bill to centralize appointment of Supreme Court administrator with chief justice
Summary
Sen. John Fuller told the Senate Judiciary Committee he wants the Montana Supreme Court’s chief justice to appoint the court administrator, arguing the change increases accountability by clarifying who the administrator reports to.
Senator John Fuller introduced Senate Bill 342 to the Senate Judiciary Committee, proposing that the Montana Supreme Court’s chief justice appoint the administrative officeholder titled the court administrator. "There is established the office of court administrator...the chief justice shall appoint a court administrator," the sponsor said, framing the bill as a measure to improve clarity about responsibility and accountability within the Supreme Court’s administrative structure.
Bowen Greenwood, elected clerk of the Montana Supreme Court, testified in support as an informational witness, saying the bill preserves supervisory control with the court and addresses concerns raised in earlier sessions. Greenwood said the change, in his view, reduces the time needed to make administrative changes because chief justices serve eight‑year terms and a change at the chief justice level can be implemented more quickly than turnover of the full court.
Committee members pressed witnesses on whether the proposal would make the court administrator a "political" appointee and whether that would reduce employment protections or create opportunities for partisan influence. Greenwood said the term "political appointee" was used loosely in testimony and that Montana’s judicial elections are nonpartisan; he emphasized that the court administrator would remain accountable to the court.
Senator Olson asked whether the bill would make appointment power rest with an individual rather than the court as an institution; sponsors and witnesses responded that the bill reflects existing administrative practice and clarifies to whom the administrator is accountable. Several senators said the change was consistent with how chief justices already exercise administrative duties.
The committee voted in executive session to pass Senate Bill 342 out of committee; a roll‑call vote recorded five yes and three no votes. The bill passed the committee and was sent forward for further consideration.
