“Speculation Is Not a Fact” – The Montana Supreme Court’s Clarification of Due-Process Limits on Victim-Impact Statements in State v. C. Jacob I. Introduction On 24 June 2025, the Supreme Court of...
State v. Matthews: Re-defining the Weight of Officer Testimony versus Dash-Cam Evidence in Particularized Suspicion Analysis Introduction State v. T. Matthews, 2025 MT 129, presented the Montana...
Waiver-by-Mootness: The Montana Supreme Court Clarifies Jurisdiction After Insurer’s Post-Payment “Reservation of Rights” Commentary on Perea v. AmTrust Insurance Co., 2025 MT 130 Introduction Perea...
“No Live Case, No Power to Hear”: Hawkins v. State, 2025 MT 134 — Cementing the Rule that District Court Interlocutory Jurisdiction under § 15-2-305, MCA, Requires an Active MTAB Proceeding...
Distinct Penetrations, Distinct Crimes: State v. Foster Establishes Clear Test for Multiple Sexual-Offense Charges and Limits on Presence-of-Defendant Error Introduction State v. Donald Edward...
“Rebutting the Fit-Parent Presumption” – Grandchild Visitation of A.L.U. (Supreme Court of Montana, 2025 MT 131) Introduction In In re the Grandparent–Grandchild Visitation of A.L.U., 2025 MT 131,...
Harris Estate v. Reilly: Montana Supreme Court Requires Sanctions for Last-Minute Voluntary Dismissals under Rule 41(a)(2) Introduction In Estate of William Harris III v. Reilly, 2025 MT 126, the...
Knudsen v. University of Montana: 2025 MT 125 – Clarifying the Use of Regulatory Compliance Experts and the Scope of a University’s Fiduciary Duty 1. Introduction Knudsen v. University of Montana...
Caldwell v. Caldwell: Judicial Duty to Verify Property Valuations Despite Parties’ Settlement Agreements 1. Introduction In Marriage of: Caldwell, 2025 MT 127N, the Supreme Court of Montana addressed...
“Similar Means Similar”: The Majority-Outcome Test for Out-of-State DUI Enhancements after State v. Lapointe Introduction In State v. C. Lapointe, 2025 MT 124, the Supreme Court of Montana confronted...
Forcible-Felony Instruction as a De Facto “Defense-of-Others” Charge: A Comprehensive Commentary on State v. C. Rossbach, 2025 MT 128N Introduction State v. Cavey Little Rossbach, 2025 MT 128N, is a...
“Evasive-Driving Particularized Suspicion”: The Montana Supreme Court’s Refinement of Reasonable Suspicion in State v. Halie Maria Herzog 1. Introduction On 17 June 2025 the Supreme Court of Montana...
State v. Hunt (2025 MT 122): Prosecutorial “Door-Opening” Limits Re-affirmed and Particularized Suspicion Refined Introduction The Supreme Court of Montana’s decision in State v. Nicole Lee Hunt,...
“Reaffirming Armstrong” Montana’s Supreme Court Confirms Viability-Based Abortion Protection and Strict-Scrutiny Review Under the State Privacy Clause 1. Introduction On 9 June 2025 the Supreme Court...
Clarifying Maintenance Expenditures under §25-13-802: Exclusion of Personal Property Cleanup Costs in Redemption Actions Introduction This memorandum opinion arises from a long-running feud over a...
Compelling Administrative Action: Mandamus to Enforce Board’s Duty to Review Petroleum Tank Cleanup Claims Introduction Cascade County v. Montana Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board (2025 MT...
Estate of Neal v. Eighth Judicial District Court: Limiting Probate Notice to “Good Cause” under § 72-1-301(2), MCA Introduction In Estate of Neal v. Eighth Judicial District Court, 2025 MT __, the...
Defining Supervisory Control: Limits and Criteria in Montana Appellate Procedure Introduction This commentary examines the Supreme Court of Montana’s Order in Jing v. 13th Judicial District Court, OP...
Independent Termination of Parental Rights Under MCA §41-3-609 Introduction This commentary examines the Supreme Court of Montana’s decision in Matter of B.J.B., YINC (2025 MT 116), which clarifies...
Affirmation of Active Efforts and Good Cause Deviation Under the Indian Child Welfare Act in Matter of P.E.W., YINC (2025 MT 114) Introduction Matter of P.E.W., decided by the Supreme Court of...