Public Defender Office Seeks Default Permission for Certain Remote Appearances; Magistrates Resist
House Bill 116 would allow public defenders to appear remotely for routine, non‑substantive court hearings by default unless a judge orders in‑person appearance. OPD said the change reduces travel burdens in under‑resourced areas; the Montana Magistrates Association opposed, citing defendants' access to private counsel and technology concerns.
The full story
Representative Valerie More introduced House Bill 116, an Office of the Public Defender (OPD)‑sponsored bill that would encourage courts to permit remote appearances for routine scheduling and administrative hearings (for example, initial appearances, bond/bail, status hearings and calendar calls) where technology allows. The measure would not mandate remote proceedings in courts that lack technological capacity and would exclude hearings that determine outcomes.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.