By Lillian Poulsen, Digital Organizer
Montana should elect judges based on their record and qualifications, not politics. CI-132 is a simple measure that says “judicial elections in Montana shall remain nonpartisan” and protects the way we’ve been electing our judges for over 90 years.
Nonpartisan means not supporting, aligning with, or being influenced by any specific political party. It separates itself from party bias, focusing instead on objective facts, fairness, and broader principles rather than loyalty to a political group. In this case, it means judges are elected based on whether they are accountable to the law and the constitution, not their political party.
Most Montanans interact with judges in family, traffic, civil, and criminal courts, which decide everything from child custody to employment and property disputes.
There is no Democratic or Republican way to handle court cases, there’s just the law. Mixing politics with court cases hurts Montanans who want fair and impartial hearings.
What a yes vote means
CI-132 keeps money-driven politics out of our courts. We need to keep judges accountable to the law, not money.
Courts are supposed to be fair to everyone, no matter what they’re worth or who they know. But politics today runs on money, and we can’t let that into our courtrooms. Justice shouldn’t be for sale.
Voting “yes” on CI-132 means supporting nonpartisan judicial elections and keeping money out of our courts.
Why should I care?
The consequences of the decisions made in the Supreme Court will impact young people the most and for the longest.
Lower courts might see more young people with parking tickets and traffic violations. The rate of speeding violations is highest among teens and decreases with age, according to the Transportation Research Board.
Divorce hearings, child custody hearings, and Minor in Possession from drinking underage are all reasons younger people may interact with courts. There isn’t a Democratic or Republican way to look at these issues, and political bias can harm Montanans who deserve a fair trial.
“Older people and younger people interact with courts more,” said Trent Bolger, the executive director of Big Sky 55+. “So, the closer you are from the cradle to the grave, the more you’re actually going to interact with courts.”
Listen to our podcast, What the Helena, to hear more about CI-132, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Legal Challenges
CI-132 is in response to the Republican-led Legislature’s recent efforts to pass laws that would make judicial elections partisan.
In Helena, politicians passed HB39, which repealed the law that prevented parties from contributing to judicial candidates. This allows political parties to make financial contributions of nearly $90,000 to Montana judges.
HB39 is a dangerous step toward making judges cater to political parties. We need to protect independent courts and keep them accountable to the constitution, not political parties and their money.
Montana now provides voters with an independent judicial performance report about every judicial candidate’s experience, courtroom conduct, and decisions. Montanans can and should cast their vote based on a judge’s record.
Who is for and against CI-132?
CI-132 gathered 78,361 valid signatures from 60 Montana House districts, more than 18,000 signatures required to qualify for the November 2026 ballot.
The initiative is endorsed by nine retired Montana Supreme Court Justices, 21 retired District Court Judges, and dozens of Montana legal experts, retired sheriffs, and criminal prosecutors.
Retired Justice Jim Nelson served on the Montana Supreme Court for 20 years. He supports CI-132.
“You do not want judges who are going to rule not on the basis of the facts and the law that apply to your case, but are going to follow a party political platform,” Justice Nelson said. “All you want is fair, impartial, independent, and nonpartisan judges deciding your case.”
Listen to more of Justice Nelson’s opinions on our podcast, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Montana Republican Party passed a resolution opposing CI-132, saying the initiative doesn’t remove politics from judicial elections. The support for this initiative from voters from all political parties shows how this isn’t true.
Montana’s history of electing judges
Montana started electing judges in nonpartisan elections in 1935 as a response to Montana’s powerful Copper Kings who were buying judges to rule in their favor. CI-132 protects that long-standing tradition so we can keep judges accountable to the people’s interests, not deep-pocketed political interests.
Our country’s founders knew that an independent judiciary was essential for a free republic. This is what we fought for, and we continue that fight today by protecting Montana’s nonpartisan courts.
How do Montana judicial elections work?
Judges are elected by the voters through non-partisan elections.
Montanans elect Supreme Court justices to eight-year terms. District judges serve six-year terms. Municipal court judges and justices of the peace serve four-year terms.
All of these courts operate through a nonpartisan lens, which wouldn’t be possible without the constitutional protection of nonpartisan courts.