HELENA – A bill that creates three new District Court judgeships became law over the weekend without the governor’s signature.
Senate Bill 158, by Republican Sen. Greg Barkus of Kalispell, provides for elections next year for a sixth district judge in Yellowstone County, a fourth judge in Flathead County and a fourth judge in the district that includes Lewis and Clark and Broadwater counties. The new judges would take office in 2011.
Because of budget concerns, Gov. Brian Schweitzer had proposed an amendatory veto to delay the election of the three new judges until 2014, with them taking office in 2015. The Senate rejected his proposed amendment on a 44-6 vote while the House turned it down 88-12.
The bill is expected to cost about $1.9 million over two years when the judges and their staffs take office.
“There have been substantial delays in conflict resolution in each of these communities,” said Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath, who was Montana’s attorney general for the past eight years. “This will be of great help to all the people in those communities to get these court cases resolved in a timely manner.”
Barkus’ original bill called for six new judges, but that number was cut in half because of budget concerns.
The bill originally called for also adding a fifth judge in Cascade County, a seventh judge in Yellowstone County and a fourth judge in Gallatin County.
“I think it’s a fair compromise to go with three now,” Barkus said. “The next session can deal with the other three.”