Failure to Give § 46-12-210(1)(f) Immigration Advisement Is Not Per Se Plain Error Where the Record Shows Actual Awareness Case: State v. Padilla-Canales, 2025 MT 303 (Mont. Dec. 30, 2025) Court:...
“Proper Occasion” Limits on Accomplice-Distrust Instructions: No Instruction Where It Conflicts With an Innocence Defense, and Dropped Charges Don’t Create an Accomplice “As a Matter of Law” Case:...
Refusal of Newborn Medical Testing as Probable Cause for Emergency Removal and Termination Affirmance Under § 41-3-609(1)(f), MCA (Matter of R.T.C. & R.J.C.) Introduction In In the Matter of: R.T.C....
Montana Guardianship Under § 41-3-444, MCA: No “Unfitness” Finding and No Clear-and-Convincing Burden Required Case: Matter of L.D., YINC (In the Matter of: I.D., T.D., and L.D., Youths in Need of...
Guardianship Need Not Be Considered Absent a Petition Once Statutory Grounds for Termination Are Met Case: In the Matter of: W.B.A., A Youth in Need of Care, 2025 MT 300N (Mont. Dec. 29, 2025) Court:...
Neonatal Drug-Exposure and Refusal of Medically Necessary Testing Support EPS Probable Cause; Treatment-Plan Challenges, IAC Claims, and Guardianship Alternatives Must Be Properly Preserved 1....
Guardianship Under § 41-3-444, MCA: No “Unfitness” Finding Required and No Clear-and-Convincing Burden Case: In the Matter of: I.D., T.D., and L.D., Youths in Need of Care (2025 MT 299) Court:...
Guardianship Under § 41-3-444, MCA Requires No “Unfitness” Finding and Imposes No Clear-and-Convincing Burden I. Introduction In Matters of I.D., T.D., and L.D., Youths in Need of Care, 2025 MT 299,...
Evidentiary Rigor and Neutral Professional Input in Parenting Plan Restrictions: Commentary on Parenting of A.C.P.S. (2025 MT 297N) I. Introduction The Montana Supreme Court’s memorandum opinion in...
Public Trust, Prosecutorial Status, and Personal Dishonesty: The 60‑Day Suspension of County Attorney Naomi R. Leisz I. Introduction The Montana Supreme Court’s December 23, 2025 Order of Discipline...
Kapps v. State: Reaffirming Strong Strickland Deference Despite Counsel’s Disbarment and Credibility-Opinion Cross-Examination I. Introduction In Kapps v. State, 2025 MT 295, the Supreme Court of...
Noland v. State and the Montana PSC: Standing, LLC Injury, and Pre‑Enforcement Facial Challenges to Economic Regulation I. Introduction Noland v. State, 2025 MT 294, is a significant Montana Supreme...
Strategic Waiver, Plain Error, and Juror Bias in Montana: Commentary on State v. Soapes, 2025 MT 296 I. Introduction In State v. Soapes, 2025 MT 296, the Montana Supreme Court affirmed the conviction...
Deferential Appellate Review of Restitution Findings in Nonprecedential Memorandum Decisions: Commentary on State v. O’Connell, 2025 MT 298N I. Introduction State v. O’Connell, 2025 MT 298N (DA...
Revocation Courts Cannot Expand Original Sentences by Making Them Consecutive to Later-Imposed Terms: Commentary on M. LaForge v. D. Godfrey (Mont. 2025) 1. Introduction This commentary analyzes the...
State v. Andersen and the Presumption of Prejudice from Court-Staff Comments on Evidence During Jury Deliberations I. Introduction In State v. Andersen, 2025 MT 293, the Montana Supreme Court...
Reaffirming Strict Duties of Diligence, Communication, and Practice Management in Attorney Discipline Commentary on Matter of Michael P. Sinks, Supreme Court of Montana (Dec. 16, 2025) 1....
Equitable Modification of Property Awards to Counter Post‑Judgment Asset Manipulation: Commentary on In re Marriage of Steinbeisser, 2025 MT 289 I. Introduction The Montana Supreme Court’s decision...
Voluntary Absence as Waiver: State v. McKnight and the Limits of Due Diligence in Montana Felony Trials I. Introduction In State v. McKnight, 2025 MT 288, the Montana Supreme Court addressed a...
State v. Lambert: Mandatory Counsel at Probation Revocation Dispositional Hearings and Structural Error for Uncounseled Sentencing I. Introduction In State v. Lambert, 2025 MT 286, the Montana...