Facial Illegality on Revocation: A Sentence That Increases the Imprisonment Term Is Unlawful Even If Credits Might “Net Out” 1. Introduction Case: R. Burton v. Salmonsen (Supreme Court of Montana,...
Absconding from Probation Justifies Charging Pre-Arrest Speedy-Trial Delay to the Accused; Forensic Mirror Images Satisfy “Substantial Equivalent” Discovery Case: State v. M. Smith, 2026 MT 106...
Conveying a Life Estate to One Joint Tenant Severs the Joint Tenancy by Destroying the Unity of Interest (Mont. 2026) 1. Introduction In MacLaurin v. Fischer Law, PLLC, 2026 MT 109, the Montana...
Mandatory Felony-DUI Fines After Cole: Fine Must Be Imposed, Then Ability-to-Pay Evaluated with Possible Suspension Case: State v. C. Spang, 2026 MT 107 (Mont. May 19, 2026) Court: Supreme Court of...
Cline v. Pritchard (Mont. 2026): No Rule 55(b)(2) Default-Hearing Notice Absent an “Appearance,” and Veterans’ Disability Benefits Lose Exemption Once Converted into Marital Real Property 1....
Montana’s 2026 Evidence Modernization Proposal: Deepfake Authentication Gatekeeping and a Forfeiture-by-Wrongdoing Hearsay Exception 1. Introduction In re the Montana Rules of Evidence (Supreme Court...
Auditable, Clerk-Run Random Selection for Substitution of Montana District Judges (Geographically Limited Pool) Proceeding: IN RE REVISED RULES ON SUBSTITUTION OF DISTRICT JUDGES Court: Supreme Court...
State v. Laman: Talksabout “Community Protection” Facts Are Not Mandatory; Patterned Predatory Sexual-Offense Allegations Can Defeat Youth-Court Transfer 1. Introduction In State v. G. Laman (2026 MT...
Guardianship in YINC Proceedings: No Dispositional-Hearing Prerequisite and Statutory Limits on a Guardian’s Adoption Consent Introduction Matter of K.S., YINC (2026 MT 105N) is a Montana Supreme...
“Usable Form” Means Usable to the Commissioner: Agency-Specified Record Formats and Maximum Fines Upheld Under Montana Insurance Code Case: Victory Insurance Co. v. State Auditor, 2026 MT 100 (Mont....
Ten-Year Lookback Limits DUI “Second-Offense” Penalties Despite a Second DUI Conviction Introduction In State v. Snyder, 2026 MT 103N (Mont. May 12, 2026) (memorandum opinion; noncitable), the...
Pope v. DOC: Conflicting CBA/Offer-Letter Probation Terms Create Triable Fact Issues; Probation Extensions Must Track CBA Mutual-Assent Limits 1. Introduction In Pope v. Montana Department of...
Concurrent-Sentence Merger Fixes the Start Date for Cross-Case Credit; Stipulated Street-Time Credit Is Waived on Appeal Case: State v. K. Schmiedeke, 2026 MT 96 (Mont. May 5, 2026) Court: Supreme...
Affidavit-Threshold Requirement for Parenting-Plan Modification: Courts May Deny Without Hearing Absent a Statutory Showing of Changed Child Circumstances 1. Introduction Case: In re the Parenting of...
Sentencing Courts Must Conduct an Independent § 46-14-311/312 MCA Mental-Condition Determination When the Issue Is Raised at Sentencing Introduction In State v. Myers Starks, 2026 MT 93, the Montana...
Repetitive Habeas Challenges to a Settled Montana Sentence May Trigger a Supreme Court Leave-to-File Requirement 1. Introduction Case: J. Eves v. Borchert (Order), Supreme Court of Montana, filed May...
Due Process and Specific Findings Required Before Montana Courts Impose Vexatious-Litigant Prefiling Orders Introduction Heaven v. Weber (2026 MT 95) arose after Matthew Heaven sued Steven Paul Weber...
“Sexual Contact” Under Montana Law: “Knowingly” Is an Alternative to “Purposely,” and Omitting “Purposely” from the Instruction Was Not Plain Error (State v. Steffens) Court: Supreme Court of Montana...
Appealability and Timeliness in Montana When a Court Authorizes Sale of Real Property Without Rule 77(d) Notice Case: Keltz v. KMW Enterprises (Order denying motion to dismiss appeal) Court: Supreme...
Opie v. Wead: The Montana Supreme Court’s Notarized Motion-for-Leave Gatekeeping Rule for Repetitive Habeas Original Proceedings 1. Introduction Opie v. Wead (Mont. Apr. 28, 2026) is an original...