INTERNAL OPERATING RULES
SECTION I. CLASSIFICATION AND CONSIDERATION FOR SUMMARY DISPOSITION, REBRIEFING AND SUBMISSION ON BRIEFS
1. Upon receipt of appellant's reply brief, or after the
time for filing the same has expired, the office of the clerk of court shall
promptly deliver copies of the briefs to all justices and to the chief justice
all district court files. All documents subsequently received pertaining to
such cases shall be promptly delivered to the chief justice.
2. The chief justice then shall assign each
case to a panel of five justices and place each case on a conference
agenda at least one week later.
3. On the conference date the following procedure will
be used in considering the cases set for conference:
(a) Each case will be discussed by the five justices assigned to that case.
The first issue shall be oral argument. If two justices request oral argument,
the case will be set for oral argument en banc, and no further discussion will
be held on that case.
(b) If an appeal is deemed frivolous, it will be summarily dismissed. If a
case is found to be insufficiently briefed, it will be returned to counsel
for such rebriefing as is required.
(c) If an appeal presents no constitutional issues, no issues of first impression,
does not establish new precedent or modify existing precedent, or, in the opinion
of the Court, would otherwise not be of future guidance for citation purposes
to the citizens of Montana, the bench, or the bar, the Court may classify that
appeal as one for a noncitable opinion. The decision for the case will provide
the ultimate disposition without a detailed statement of facts or law. The
decision shall not be citeable as precedent but shall be filed as a public
document with the clerk; shall be reported by result only to the State Reporter
Publishing Company and to West Group along with the case title and Supreme
Court cause number in the quarterly table of noncitable cases issued by this
Court; and shall be assigned a public domain, neutral-format citation in accordance
with the Court's order dated December 16th, 1997, and posted to the State Bulletin
Board.
(d) (i) After all briefs have been filed in any appeal, the Supreme Court by
unanimous action may, sua sponte, enter an order or memorandum opinion affirming
the judgment or order of the trial court for the reason that it is manifest
on the face of the briefs and the record that the appeal is without merit because:
(1) the issues are clearly controlled by settled Montana law or federal law
binding upon the states;
(2) the issues are factual and there clearly is sufficient evidence to support
the jury verdict or findings of fact below; or
(3) the issues are ones of judicial discretion and there clearly was not an
abuse of discretion.
(ii) Notwithstanding the provision in section (i) requiring unanimous action,
an order or memorandum opinion affirming the judgment or order of the trial
court may be entered pursuant to subsections (1) through (3) of section (i)
on a majority vote, even though the claim may have merit in the view of the
minority, provided that all justices participating in the action shall agree
that such summary disposition of the action may be made.
(iii) After all briefs have been filed in any appeal, the Supreme Court by
unanimous action may, sua sponte, enter an order or memorandum opinion reversing
the judgment or order of the trial court for the reason that it is manifest
on the face of the briefs and the record that the order or judgment is clearly
erroneous for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) summary judgment was erroneously granted because a genuine issue of material
fact exists;
(2) the judgment or order was clearly contrary to settled Montana law or federal
law binding upon the states; or
(3) the issue on appeal is one of judicial discretion and there clearly was
an abuse of discretion.
(iv) Notwithstanding the provision in section (iii) requiring unanimous action,
an order or memorandum opinion reversing the judgment or order of the trial
court may be entered pursuant to subsections (1) through (3) of section (iii)
on a majority vote, even though the claim may have merit in the view of the
minority, provided that all justices participating in the action shall agree
that such summary disposition of the action may be made.
(v) A list indicating the disposition of all decisions rendered by the Supreme
Court under this section shall be published quarterly in the Pacific and Montana
Reporters. Such decisions shall not be cited or relied upon as authority in
any litigation in any court in Montana except when the decision establishes
the law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel, or in a criminal
action or proceeding involving the same defendant or a disciplinary action
or proceeding involving the same person,
(vi) A petition for rehearing of a cause decided under this section may be
served and filed pursuant to the provisions of Rule 34, M.R.App.P.
(e) If the case is classified as submitted on briefs, the five justices on
the panel will discuss the merits of the case and take a tentative vote. If
four or more justices reach a conclusion, the case then will be assigned by
the chief justice to one of the five justices on the panel for opinion writing,
and that date will be the submission date for that case. If four justices do
not vote for one position, the case will be assigned for en banc consideration
at the conference one week later.
(f) Appropriate orders shall advise counsel of summary disposition, rebriefing
requirements, and submission on brief or abbreviated opinion assignment.
(g) Cases classified for oral argument shall be placed on the calendar. An
appropriate order shall promptly give notice of the time set for hearing oral
argument.
SECTION II. ORAL ARGUMENT
1. A conference will be held following oral argument. The
members of the Court will discuss and vote on the case.
2. Oral argument cases on which a vote has not
yet been taken will receive first priority at all Court conferences.
A justice absent at a subsequent conference will be responsible
for presenting his or her views in writing in time for conference.
3. When four justices have reached a tentative decision
on a case, that case will be assigned for opinion writing by the
chief justice. The date the case is assigned for opinion writing
is the submission date for the case.
SECTION III. OPINIONS
1. The basic aim is that the final opinion in each case shall
be signed and filed with the clerk not later than 180 days following the submission
date. Complexity of issues and case load may require additional time for filing
of the final opinion with the clerk.
2. Within the foregoing period of 180 days,
the following apply:
(a) Within ninety days of the submission date, the opinion-writing justice
shall circulate an opinion draft. The ninety-day period for circulation of
an opinion draft is a basic aim; however case load and complexity of issues
may require additional time. The draft opinion shall be considered at the next
Thursday conference, subject to the requirement that the opinion must be circulated
by Monday in order to be considered on Thursday.
(b) At the conference the opinion draft shall be voted upon. If four justices
vote in favor, the draft shall be finalized.
(c) A justice shall circulate copies of his or her signed dissenting or concurring
opinion as soon as practical after the date on which a majority approve a proposed
opinion.
SECTION IV. OPERATION AS SEVEN JUSTICE AND FIVE JUSTICE COURT
1. The Supreme Court en banc
shall consist of seven members. The Court en banc shall hear all cases in
which the accused shall have been sentenced to death, cases in which a bona
fide challenge is made to the constitutionality of a statute, cases involving
a question certified to the Court by another court pursuant to Rule 44, Montana
Rules of Appellate Procedure, and such cases as shall be determined by two
or more justices to require a hearing en banc.
2. Any petition for rehearing shall be considered
by those justices hearing the case in the first instance. Whether
decided by a five judge panel or en banc, if four members would
grant a petition for rehearing, the petition shall be granted.
Those justices hearing the case in the first instance shall
then determine whether to decide the case on the briefs or
after oral argument. If a petition for rehearing is granted,
the parties to the appeal will be notified as to whether the
case will be decided on briefs or after oral argument.
3. All proposed opinions shall be circulated to
all justices, whether members of the panel or not. Any justice who
is not a panel member may request participation in the panel conference
on such proposed opinion.
SECTION V. ORDERS OF THE COURT
1. This section is designed to
provide a more efficient, streamlined and speedier procedure for issuing
and executing orders of the Court, and to conserve its judicial resources.
All orders covered by part 2 of this section shall be signed by the chief
justice or in his or her absence, the acting chief justice, on behalf of
the Court in this manner:
For the Court,
By _____________________________________
2. The following orders shall
be signed as provided in part 1:
(a) All orders based on stipulation of counsel.
(b) All orders covering matters decided by the Court in conference, with the
exception of orders granting or denying petitions for rehearing.
(c) All orders fixing or extending the time within which an act must be done.
(d) All orders concerning court calendars, case classifications, participation
in and time limits for oral argument, applications for filing of briefs or
for oral argument for amicus curiae and related orders.
(e) All interlocutory orders.
3. The following matters shall require the individual signatures
of a majority of the justices:
(a) All opinions.
(b) Orders granting or denying rehearing, orders of dismissal, or other final
dispositions.
SECTION VI. JUDICIAL RULEMAKING
1. An application for the adoption,
recision, amendment or implementation of a rule or program regulating Montana's
lawyers may be made to the Supreme Court at any time. The moving party's
application and all supporting documents shall be filed with the Clerk of
the Supreme Court.
2. The Supreme Court shall consider the application
at the Court's next conference following the filing of the
application.
3. If the Court believes additional discussion or information
on the subject of the application is required, the court may provide a
comment period for proponents and opponents to state their views on the
application. The Court may also use this opportunity to voice its comments
on the subject.
4. If comments are received, the Court shall provide
the moving party an opportunity to respond to the comments. Response
of the moving party includes not only substantive discussion of the
comments received, but also potentially substantive changes to the
subject matter of the application.
5. If substantive changes are made to the proposed
rule or program by the applicants, the Court may re-open the comment
and response periods.
6. Free flow of information is encouraged.
7. The publication of the application for the adoption,
recision, amendment or implementation of a rule, program or order, whether
for comment or after final action by the Court, may be accomplished, at
the Court's discretion, by publication in the Montana Lawyer magazine,
by electronic publication on the websites of the State Law Library, the
Court, or the State Bar of Montana, or by any combination thereof.
8. The adoption of this process is in no way intended
to interfere with or preclude operation of the Supreme Court's original,
inherent and exclusive jurisdiction and responsibility under Article VII,
Section 2(3) of the Constitution of the State of Montana to make rules
governing the conduct of Bar members.
SECTION VII. GENERAL
1. The chief justice shall assign
all cases on a rotation basis among the justices. The chief justice shall
rotate on the five-member panels in the same manner as other justices and
shall hear a like number of cases. The chief justice shall be assigned one-third
fewer cases for opinion than other justices because of his or her additional
administrative duties.
2. The Supreme Court shall hold a conference
twice weekly, one each Tuesday morning and one each Thursday
morning, commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room of
the Court. At all conferences, oral argument cases without
a submission date shall be given top priority. The chief justice
shall prepare an agenda for each Tuesday and Thursday conference.
The agenda for the Tuesday conference shall be distributed
by noon on the preceding Friday. The agenda for the Thursday
conference shall be distributed by noon on the preceding Tuesday.
In the event any justice is unable to attend a conference, if possible he or
she shall advise the chief justice two days prior to the date of the conference.
In addition the justice shall submit a written vote setting forth his or her
decisions on matters to be discussed at the conference.
3. The chief justice shall preside over all matters on which
he or she sits. If the chief justice is not sitting on that case, the member
of the Court with the shortest time to serve shall be the acting chief justice
for that case.
4. In those cases in which a justice disqualifies himself
or herself, the chief justice or acting chief justice shall designate a
replacement.
5. These rules may be suspended or waived by order of
the Supreme Court.
6. At the first weekly conference in each month, the clerk
shall prepare and circulate among the justices a written report listing
all matters which are past due under these rules, and giving the status
of all uncompleted applications for writs, motions, and other matters requiring
the attention of the Court.
7. Orders, as distinguished from memorandum opinions or
full opinions, shall not be published.
8. A full written opinion shall be prepared unless the
Court shall determine the disposition shall be by order or by memorandum
opinion. An example of disposition by order is the following:
[Title of Cause] ORDER
The appeal in this case is dismissed for failure of appellant to order or file
a transcript within the time allowed by law. See Rules 9(b) and 20(a), M.R.App.P.
(DATED AND SIGNED)
9. Upon the filing of petitions, applications, or motions
with regard to habeas corpus, post-conviction relief, mandamus, prohibition,
supervisory control, extraordinary writ, or other requests not pertaining to
a pending appeal, the clerk shall deliver a copy of the same to the chief justice.
If he or she deems it necessary, the chief justice shall order a response.
When the ordered response is filed, the clerk shall deliver to each justice
a copy of all papers filed and the matter will be placed upon the next Tuesday
conference agenda. If the chief justice determines that the Court should consider
the petition or application before ordering a response, the matter shall be
put on the next conference agenda, and the clerk will be requested to deliver
to each justice a copy of the papers filed.
10. In all opinions regarding the abuse and neglect of children
and the termination of parental rights pursuant to Title 41, Chapter 3, MCA,
the Court shall attempt to maintain the confidentiality of children by referring
to both the children and the parents involved by their initials or first
names only as justice requires.
11. The foregoing rules supersede all prior internal rules
of this Court, whether or not specific reference is made to such prior
rules.
Amended December 1997
Amended August 2000
Amended February 2003
Amended June 2003
Amended November 2003
