MISSOULA — Outside spending in judicial campaigns is a top issue in the Montana Supreme Court’s two contested races.
The Supreme Court candidates met in a forum Tuesday night at the University of Montana School of Law.
Incumbent Justice Mike Wheat and challenger Lawrence VanDyke debated how corporate spending has affected Montana’s judicial elections in the wake of U.S. Supreme Court rulings in 2010 and 2012.
Wheat says the Montana Supreme Court “may be under attack” by out-of-state corporate groups who want to influence election outcomes. VanDyke responded that he believes in organizations’ free-speech rights.
Incumbent Jim Rice also was critical of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions on corporate campaign spending. Challenger W. David Herbert named his allegiance to the Libertarian Party and advocated for juries to rule against laws they decide are unjust.