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Montana hearing tests bill to let judicial candidates opt into party labels on ballots
Summary
Supporters said HB 295 would give voters more information and protect judges' associational rights; opponents, including the State Bar, warned that partisan labels would erode judicial independence and mislead about qualifications. The committee took testimony and questioning; no vote recorded in committee on the bill during this session.
Representative Paul Fielder opened the House Judiciary hearing on House Bill 295 by saying the measure would let judicial candidates "declare their party affiliation or leaning if they choose to" and have that listed on ballots, while also allowing candidates to accept party endorsements if they opt in.
Proponents framed HB 295 as a transparency measure. John Synrude, testifying as a private citizen, said many voters "have no clue who the judges are" and argued party labels help citizens understand a candidate's general outlook. Bart Crabtree of the Montana Citizens Council on Judicial…
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