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Chief Justice Swanson tells Montana Legislature judiciary needs more judges, faster mental‑health evaluation capacity
Summary
Chief Justice Corey Swanson urged the Legislature to fund additional judges in Yellowstone County, speed mental‑health evaluations for criminal defendants, preserve legislative archives and avoid measures that could undermine the judiciary's independence.
Chief Justice Corey Swanson told a joint session of the Montana Legislature that the state judiciary needs expanded capacity — both more judges and faster mental‑health evaluation and treatment — to handle rising caseloads and avoid delays that could impede criminal prosecutions.
"The rising caseload problem in Yellowstone County is not exaggerated," Chief Justice Corey Swanson told legislators, noting that in calendar year 2024 Yellowstone County accounted for 29% of statewide criminal filings and 26% of child neglect cases (figures cited by the chief justice). He requested legislation and…
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