The Montana Senate debated Senate Bill 42, a Republican-led effort to make judicial elections partisan in the state. Supporters of the bill argue that it will improve transparency in the system, while opponents believe it will inject partisan politics into a branch that should remain neutral. Currently, all judicial candidates, including those for the Supreme Court, appear on a single primary ballot without party labels. Under SB 42, candidates would have to list a partisan party, although they could run as independents. The bill passed a key vote in the Senate with a vote of 29 to 21, with three Republicans joining the Democrat caucus in opposition. Critics argue that requiring judges to list a partisan party could impact the impartiality of the courts. Senator Daniel Emrich, the bill’s sponsor, maintains that judges should have the right to exercise their free speech but still fulfill their responsibility to faithfully adjudicate the law. The debate over partisan judicial elections continues as the bill moves forward in the legislative process.
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