Montana Case Commentaries

State v. Kalina: Franks Hearing Limited to Search Warrants and Reaffirmation of Criminal Procedure Standards

Date: Apr 9, 2025

State v. Kalina: Franks Hearing Limited to Search Warrants and Reaffirmation of Criminal Procedure Standards Introduction In State of Montana v. Justin Dean Kalina, 2025 MT 70, the Montana Supreme...

Shelton v. State: Clarifying Attorneys’ Duty to Non-Clients in Adoption Proceedings and Preclusion of Interstate Compact Relitigation

Date: Apr 9, 2025

Shelton v. State: Clarifying Attorneys’ Duty to Non-Clients in Adoption Proceedings and Preclusion of Interstate Compact Relitigation Introduction In Shelton v. State of Montana, 2025 MT 71, the...

Nonprecedential Reaffirmation of Montana’s Best-Interest Standard, Rejection of the Tender Years Doctrine, and Enforceability of In-Court Stipulations in Parenting and Property Settlements

Date: Apr 3, 2025

Nonprecedential Reaffirmation of Montana’s Best-Interest Standard, Rejection of the Tender Years Doctrine, and Enforceability of In-Court Stipulations in Parenting and Property Settlements Case: In...

Cummings v. Kelly: Minor “Approximate” Fiscal Errors Do Not Invalidate Mill Levy Charter Amendments; Bond-Election Contest Statutes Inapplicable

Date: Apr 3, 2025

Cummings v. Kelly: Minor “Approximate” Fiscal Errors Do Not Invalidate Mill Levy Charter Amendments; Bond-Election Contest Statutes Inapplicable Introduction In Cummings v. Kelly, 2025 MT 68, the...

Dulaney’s Clarification of Self‑Defense in Attempted Homicide: Admission of Purposeful Use of Force Is Not an Admission of Intent to Kill

Date: Apr 3, 2025

Dulaney’s Clarification of Self‑Defense in Attempted Homicide: Admission of Purposeful Use of Force Is Not an Admission of Intent to Kill Introduction In State v. M. Dulaney, 2025 MT 67, the Montana...

McBroom v. BOPA (2025 MT 64): No Equitable Tolling of the Six-Month ULP Deadline During CBA Grievance; Parallel Filing with BOPA Permitted and Expected

Date: Apr 2, 2025

McBroom v. BOPA (2025 MT 64): No Equitable Tolling of the Six-Month ULP Deadline During CBA Grievance; Parallel Filing with BOPA Permitted and Expected Introduction In McBroom v. Montana Board of...

State v. Denny: PSIs for Misdemeanors Permitted Only When the Misdemeanor Itself Was Originally Charged as a Sexual or Violent Offense; Unlawful PSI Terms in Plea Agreements Are Void

Date: Apr 2, 2025

State v. Denny: PSIs for Misdemeanors Permitted Only When the Misdemeanor Itself Was Originally Charged as a Sexual or Violent Offense; Unlawful PSI Terms in Plea Agreements Are Void Introduction In...

No Affidavits, No Relief: Montana Supreme Court Reaffirms Strict Postconviction Pleading and Direct-Appeal Bar in Sullivan v. State

Date: Apr 2, 2025

No Affidavits, No Relief: Montana Supreme Court Reaffirms Strict Postconviction Pleading and Direct-Appeal Bar in Sullivan v. State Introduction In Sullivan v. State, 2025 MT 65N, the Supreme Court...

Reasonableness, Not Water Rights: Montana Supreme Court Reaffirms Balancing Test and Written-Consent Safe Harbor for Ditch Easement Encroachments

Date: Apr 2, 2025

Reasonableness, Not Water Rights: Montana Supreme Court Reaffirms Balancing Test and Written-Consent Safe Harbor for Ditch Easement Encroachments Case: Musselshell Ditch Co. v. JD Bar D, LLC, 2025 MT...

No Statutory Authority, No Fee; Oral Sentencing Controls: State v. Nielsen (Mont. 2025, Noncitable)

Date: Mar 26, 2025

No Statutory Authority, No Fee; Oral Sentencing Controls: State v. Nielsen (Mont. 2025, Noncitable) Note on precedential value. This is a memorandum opinion decided under Section I, Paragraph 3(c) of...

Mandatory Post-Petition Elapsed-Time Credit and No “Credit-for-Suspension” Trade-Off: Commentary on State v. L. Charles, 2025 MT 58

Date: Mar 26, 2025

Mandatory Post-Petition Elapsed-Time Credit and No “Credit-for-Suspension” Trade-Off: Commentary on State v. L. Charles, 2025 MT 58 Introduction In State v. L. Charles, 2025 MT 58, the Montana...

Implied Consent Does Not Bar Warrant-Based Blood Draws for First-Time DUI Suspects: State v. Clinkenbeard (Mont. 2025)

Date: Mar 26, 2025

Implied Consent Does Not Bar Warrant-Based Blood Draws for First-Time DUI Suspects: State v. Clinkenbeard (Mont. 2025) Introduction In State v. Clinkenbeard, 2025 MT 54, the Supreme Court of Montana...

Montana Confirms Agency Power to Decide Preemption; EO 14042 Expressly Preempted § 49-2-312 for Federal Contractors

Date: Mar 26, 2025

Preemption as Statutory Interpretation: Montana Agencies May Decide Federal Preemption; EO 14042 Expressly Preempted § 49-2-312 for Federal Contractors Introduction In Qlarant Integrity Solutions,...

Good Cause Means Diligence: Montana Supreme Court Affirms Limits on Backdating UI Claims and New Evidence on Board Appeal (Lake v. Montana DLI)

Date: Mar 26, 2025

Good Cause Means Diligence: Montana Supreme Court Affirms Limits on Backdating UI Claims and New Evidence on Board Appeal in Lake v. Montana Department of Labor & Industry Court: Supreme Court of...

No Per Se Reversal for Technical Jury-Selection Violations: State v. Hillious Clarifies Substantial Compliance, Strict Timeliness, and Treats TOP Petitions as Testimonial

Date: Mar 26, 2025

No Per Se Reversal for Technical Jury-Selection Violations: State v. Hillious Clarifies Substantial Compliance, Strict Timeliness, and Treats TOP Petitions as Testimonial Introduction In State v....

When Foreign Residence Interrupts “Home-State” Status: Montana May Assert Significant-Connection Jurisdiction and Impose Temporary Child Travel Limits (Parenting of A.H.S., 2025 MT 57)

Date: Mar 26, 2025

When Foreign Residence Interrupts “Home-State” Status: Montana May Assert Significant-Connection Jurisdiction and Impose Temporary Child Travel Limits (Parenting of A.H.S., 2025 MT 57) Introduction...

Nonprecedential Clarification: District courts abuse discretion by denying Rule 60(b)(3) relief without an evidentiary hearing when alleged forgery and notice are materially disputed

Date: Mar 26, 2025

Nonprecedential Clarification: District courts abuse discretion by denying Rule 60(b)(3) relief without an evidentiary hearing when alleged forgery and notice are materially disputed Case: In re the...

Non-Preclusive Standing Dismissals and Common-Injury Taxpayer Classes in Montana: Commentary on Gottlob v. DesRosier (2025 MT 56)

Date: Mar 26, 2025

Non-Preclusive Standing Dismissals and Common-Injury Taxpayer Classes in Montana: Gottlob v. DesRosier (2025 MT 56) Introduction In Gottlob v. DesRosier, 2025 MT 56, the Supreme Court of Montana...

Restitution Causation in Montana: Insurer Claim Testimony + Credibility Findings Can Satisfy the Preponderance Standard

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Restitution Causation in Montana: Insurer Claim Testimony + Credibility Findings Can Satisfy the Preponderance Standard 1. Introduction In State v. Raver, 2025 MT 51, the Montana Supreme Court...

Incorrect “Knowingly” Instruction in SIWOC Is Not Reversible Absent Prejudice When Consent Is the Only Disputed Fact

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Incorrect “Knowingly” Instruction in SIWOC Is Not Reversible Absent Prejudice When Consent Is the Only Disputed Fact Case: State v. P. Green (2025 MT 52N) | Court: Supreme Court of Montana | Date:...