Safeguarding the Residential Status Quo: Byron v. Rainbow Estates HOA and the Stringent Application of Montana’s Preliminary-Injunction Test in Covenant–Enforcement Disputes 1. Introduction Byron v....
Montana Supreme Court Clarifies Curative Effect of Post-Hearing Findings on Premature Ex Parte Third-Party Parenting Orders A Commentary on In re Parenting of D.C.S., 2025 MT 179 (DA 24-0547) 1....
Jackson v. Jackson: Montana High Court Confirms Right to Discovery & Hearing Once “Changed Circumstances” Are Plausibly Alleged in Child-Support Modifications 1. Introduction The Montana Supreme...
“Public-Interest Override” After the 2017 Amendments – Supreme Court of Montana Clarifies Judicial Discretion to Require Lifetime Sex-Offender Registration for Juveniles 1. Introduction The Supreme...
Matter of S.W. & D.W. (2025 MT 178): Clarifying Montana’s “No-Reunification Efforts” Exception Where Prior Terminations and Chronic, Severe Neglect Co-Exist 1. Introduction The Supreme Court of...
2025 MT 178 – When “No Reasonable Efforts” Meets Prior Terminations: Clarifying the Department’s Obligation and Defining “Chronic, Severe Neglect” Introduction In Matter of S.W. & D.W., 2025 MT 178,...
State v. Songer (2025 MT 176): Re-affirming the Unavailability Requirement for Remote Testimony and the Necessity of Re-Sentencing When Dependent Convictions Are Vacated Introduction In State v. J....
The “Songer Standard” – Mandatory Proof of Witness Unavailability Before Playing Preserved Testimony Introduction State v. J. Songer, 2025 MT 176, is a multi-issue decision from the Montana Supreme...
State v. Songer: Montana Supreme Court Demands Strict Proof of Witness “Unavailability” Before Video Testimony Is Admitted Introduction In State v. Jory Jerae Songer, 2025 MT 176, the Supreme Court...
Assignment-as-Cancellation Doctrine: Montana Supreme Court Redefines Policy Transfers in Victory Insurance v. State (2025 MT 180) 1. Introduction Victory Insurance Company (“Victory”), a Montana...
“No Lay Representation & No Straw-Man”: Skurdal v. Walker and the Supreme Court of Montana’s Firm Reaffirmation of Judicial Immunity and Rejection of Sovereign-Citizen Arguments 1. Introduction In R....
“No-Waiver Veto”: The Supreme Court of Montana Affirms an Absolute Parental Veto over ICWA Transfer Requests Introduction In Matter of J.B., YINC, 2025 MT 170 (DA 24-0516), the Supreme Court of...
State v. Alford (2025 MT 171): Montana Supreme Court Affirms the Constitutionality of Mandatory Minimum Custodial Sentences for 4th-and-Subsequent DUI Offenses 1. Introduction The Montana Supreme...
Montana Supreme Court Reaffirms Need for Notice and Hearing Before Trial-Court Determination of Ineffective Assistance Introduction Case: State v. B. Kelsey (2025 MT 173N, DA 23-0230) – non-citable...
State v. Vaska (Mont. 2025): Consolidating Reasonable-Time Probable-Cause Determinations and Re-Anchoring the “Ability-to-Pay” Rule for Criminal Fines 1. Introduction In State v. Harlan G. Vaska,...
“Scrupulous & Meticulous”: The Montana Supreme Court’s Re-affirmation of Ability-to-Pay Findings and Accurate Credit for Time Served in State v. M. Sullivan 1. Introduction The appeal in State v....
State v. Keech (2025): Revocation Sentences, Concurrent–Consecutive Designations, and the “Facial Illegality” Escape Hatch from Res Judicata Introduction State v. Keech, 2025 MT 169, is a sweeping...
Brandt v. R&R Mountain Escapes, LLC (2025): Broad Commercial-Use Bans in Restrictive Covenants Unambiguously Prohibit Short-Term Rentals Introduction Brandt v. R&R Mountain Escapes, LLC, 2025 MT 155,...
Mandating Particularized Explanations: Del Duca v. Skydancer Reinforces Montana Rule 52(a)(3) Duties in Rule 12(b)(6) Dismissals 1. Introduction The Supreme Court of Montana’s 2025 opinion in Del...
“Silence Is Not Consent” & the Objective Test for Attorney Conduct: A Comprehensive Commentary on Marriage of Roadarmel (Sup. Ct. Mont. 2025) I. Introduction In Marriage of Roadarmel, the Montana...