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Committee considers narrow judicial administration change, supporters cite accountability
Summary
SB 342 would move appointment authority for the court administrator to the chief justice. Supporters argued the change increases accountability and reduces broad recusal issues; the committee received limited testimony and moved on to executive action.
Senator John Fuller introduced Senate Bill 342 as a narrow "code cleanup" bill that changes references from the Supreme Court as a body to the Chief Justice for appointment and administrative authority over the court administrator. Fuller said the change clarifies the existing practice and reduces ambiguity about administrative responsibility.
Bowen Greenwood, clerk of the Montana Supreme Court, testified that the change would increase accountability by tying the court administrator more directly to the chief justice and reducing instances where all justices would need to recuse themselves if the administrator were before the court. "If the people of Montana find that the court administrator becomes controversial and want to make a change, you only have to wait for 1 election, not 4," Greenwood said.
Committee members asked a few technical questions and the sponsor closed quickly; the hearing was short and informational with no opposition or further informational witnesses in the transcript. The bill moved on for committee consideration.
