Case Title: MATTER OF RULES ON DISQUALIFICATION

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: montana

Court: Montana Supreme Court

Date: 1988-09-13T00:00:00Z

Document:
-. . , . , I *- -, . q - N L.f>%T'PPP O F RUT;= FOR 1 FINAI, c.~r?-.n 0 % ~rrrzs;.ri,n ~2 THE DISQUhL,".FICAI"ICiN AN6 I - wISQUz&IFCATIOI.J - Ap;D:: . , . . , . -5 ‘ ~ U B S T ~ T U T L O N OF JUDGES ) S U ~ S T ~ ~ ~ T ~ ' ) ~ ~ C " JUE&~ " ^ C t CS - ,!,r an erd:>r date2 ,Tu!'I 2% 1987, we established rules . . * for the 6isq~alificatic.n an2. ~:ihsti-lii"i~n o f j ~ d g e s io c l v ; i . . . 3rd criminal cases, The r u : . e s had an effectl--.7e 8ate of September 1, 1 9 8 7 , In o?ur order we provided Fo.r cortml-ients, : -vi.tinq ai-tsrnevs, ir;i",ges and other interestei.: parties to .- . - s u b m i t c o m m e n t s on the rules h- Decenber 1, 19t?7. W e h e cccsi,dereii the co~ments that have beer1 maze# and where justified, have amended t h e rules as attaches The Code Coms/',esi,o~er for 'Montana Code Annotate6 has s e t f o r t 5 tke r u l e s as the- were prcm~Lgilted by us 0 1 : *July 29, 1387, Zesignatlnq the r u l e s as s"r:-l-803, 3-I-8O4 and - 7 3--1-g05, ~ C A . RE 4ra~ve a2c;p';ed those J ir the final form cf the rules, Fcr the benefit s f those parties appearing and making ~. cn~m.erits, we zdd hereto cur reesoes for disposit~.os: Fee f o r Substitutioc of a Judge + . The r u l e s 5 n their ~ x n a l form reflect thzt there i s a : : L l n ( : Fee oi $109 f o r a motion to e-uhstitute a 'udqe. This is i z acccrci2 with $ .?.5-'-20i.(?) which designates the fees to be collected by the clerk oS the district court. The earlier fori. of o u : : r-rrles seemcc? to require the payrnert of such a fee . , i n c r : m l n a : cases, azd in cases where a judge is d i s c ; u a ! i f i e , " * EOT cause. Si?ce 5 ?5-2.-.201 (pi ?ro-.vi.des a F e e only f o r motions f o r substitution of judges, we have aeen6ed the rules accordingly, . 5e~ara.j~ of p a r t i e s ri,:i;i-.in$: ccm-mene rslti? respec;t to t h e fee objected to its am~unt, that it ha2 an impact upor . . - ' poor c i l e n t s , constituted a salc of justice, acc *,vroLated the separation of powers between the Ieqisiature and the judiciarv. - However the fixing 0 . 5 court fees is a matter for the Ifqislature. It is i n the Leaislatuse thzt obiectiirs mu$& find their remedy. We will note other comments by reference to the rule as numbered in the ! . : o n t a i - a Code Annotated:: 2-1-863. Disaualificatinc 3 : judges. - *, - ' i m e he-se arncnsed this r u l e to state that if appiles to a . i l courts in Montana except a court of impeachment in the state senate. The earlier version nay have keen construed to . . omit certain mualclpal or c i t y court julges. . - We have itirther prox~ioed that a judge is disqualified ~- 3 I r ne is rel;l"ced to an a t t o r n e : . of record for a party by ccnsanpuirity or affinity within the fourth degree of kjxdred. The rule formerly prcvided for any reiationship to - , a party w i t h i n the sixth degree, but this court has considered that degree too renete. r - i?e c3..-&kny L ~ ~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ - ameni?ed subsectior 3 of t i - j ~ s rule to p r o ~ . r i c : . e t h a t no fil2g.e may sit on appeal . in a czae where he cr she rendered the judgment or order zppealed from. 3-1-809, Substitution of district judges. This rule was amecde? to make it clear that it does not i n c l ~ z e water court fudges, nor workers' compensation judge * I n subsection I ( & ) we c l a r i f i e d ?)-;at i; subs:itcte2~ judge has power to decide Legal issues in the case after hj-s substitl;"_ton and tbut he a ztterd 0 1 , to r ~ - - + : ~ * - %A LA,a= matters thereafter in e cause, W e eliminated any participation by a substituted judge in amnlhus hearings in criminal cases. In cornectkoa with subsection i ( c ) WE- "-*a A:=-. v - ~ e i ~ * p ~ J A <*- - . -.A ccrnents that we shni*id make pro-~isioos ?or subsiitution if a new judge assumes jurisdiction because of t5e internal opezating rules of a wiilti-judge court. T h a t problem hae been taken care of in the a~~erdment hereto. Fcrther with respect to sizbseetior I i c ) at the suggestion of one district judge, an2 same other observers, we crcwided a right o f one s~xbstituti~on to one third-part:? . . defendant who is not a.3 orlqlnal pzrt:; in a n ; [ perding cace. The former rule nade no such provision, . -. Subsection I l d ) was amended to make it speclrzc that nc f i r fee is r e by i8.w ir criminal cases for the substitution c f jndges. , - In subsection lie? ve provii';ed that the -13dai. , ~ . . for whiii* ' ' subs.titution i s sought has ?urrsdicticn to determine the L . -1rne1,iness of a m o t i o n for substitution, Several coininments brcugh-to our attnnticn that though - " we had eariler pro-zided for a mnticn for s7xbstitution after a new ",rial had been crdered b y tie dlLsitri.ct court or on appeal, we ha.d not r e for those cases where aitrr appeai. a surrmary judgment cr 133smissal is reversed n - modified aid t h e cause remanded to district court fcr further proceedings in the same cailsi-1. Siibsecticn l i g ) has heen . - - amended to take care of that problem, W e ha~re also prociced that i p criminal czses, nc substitution arises when the cause is remanded for resentenci-9. * . 3-1-805. Disqualir;cation for cause. The first paragraph of this section was amended to show C aLt -P-ecticn --, 1 ( a ) was amended to eliminate any require~ent for tb.e payment of a f i l l c g fee for a motion to disqualify a judge for caase. Appreciation The Supreme Court hereblr expresses its appreciation to those persons ? i ! i n g comeilts in respect to these ru.lss, The comments gave us f u r t h e r reason for close s+zuc",y an2 intense consideration. Even though not aLI of t?~e suguesticns or objections raised in the comments were acceded to 5 . ; us they ne~,*estheless gave us reason to consider the Sirection znd force thatssliouid be actsoreed to these important rules arid their practical application in the practice of Law. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: m 1, f i n a l form of the rurles promulgakend by t h i s court for the disqurLificatio;; and substitution of jiidgec shall he as attached hereto and set forth therein, 2. The effective date of said rules shall continue to be September I, 1987, 3, The Cierk of L-l_s C o u r t i s directed to mail copies o f these rules to the following: Cm i h e Cede Corm.issioner of the State of Montaaaa; r)ist-iet Court Judces of the t a k e of Fcntaoa; Clerks of the District Courts of the State of Pflontana; United States District Court Judges o f : the State of CSontaca; president Executi-.re Eirector 0 5 the State Ear of Montana: P-~cjd-nt - A 5,nd E~eeutF~re Director cf i.l--taria Trial Lawers . Association; West Publisi:ing Cnmp;lr,y, i t ' a request " h a : it hi - ~ pxbiished in the Pacit~c Reporter; r . axate Reporter, w i t h a request that it be published in the State Repcrter. -. I)P.TED this &? day of September, 1999. 3-3-RO'31 Disqualification of Judoes -- z.II courts. - -- - - --- - DZS(?!JAI,IFICATIOQ)? OF J U D G E n?' &n?~s , sectior, shall, in its a~pl.ication, apply to a?.?; courts listed i r , section 3-1-101 except a ccurt of impeachment i n the s t a t e senate. , . Any justice, judqe, justice of the Dsace, mnnlclpal court judge or city court judge must not sit or act in any a c t i o n or pr~ceedip-g: 2 . To which he i s a party, or i n which he i s interested. ? . When he is related to e?lther party or any a t t o r : ' e y or member of a firm of attorneys of record For a party b:~ according to the rules o f law; 2 , When he hzs been attorney or counsel in the a.ctic;n - or oroceedfng for any party or when s i t t i n g ir a case on appeal he as a judge i n the Lower ccart rendered or made the indgment, order, or decision appealed from, . , 2-1-BF4. Substitution of district - S , - SUBSTTTIJTLON OF DISTRICT JCCGES rn* 4, e l l r i j n i s l i r n k t e d in izs aaplication 6.0 ;?isstrict - - . . co-jrts an6 >udyss presi.iiinq t h e r e i n : i,t 6oes rat rnciude d-istrict court judges or other Llu6ges sitting is a water cccrt judqe, . , rnr a \*?orkersZ Cnmpensatioc Court judge, 1, A notion for substitution of a district 5udge may be xade by awJv party to a proceeciinq o n l y in the manrer set - < ~ . - f r t h herein. in s CIVIL or criminal case, e-lch edverse part'^, . inc.I~~(?J_rrg the state, is -3t.lfll-d kc: r;pe of a district + u d a ~ . ~~ A - (a) A aotion for substit3.1tion of a district judge aha1.L be made by Filin~~ 2 written motion w i " the clerk, as foL1.?wc: "The urdersigced hereby moves for substitution of District Judge I - i i l - i l i ~ s cause* '" A copy of the motion shall be served upon all parties to the proceeding and the clerk shall irmediate1)- notify the judge. After a timely motion has Seen filed, the substituted judge shall have no power to act on the merits of the cause or to decide legal issues therein, and shall call in another judge. However, a resident district judge who has previous? -Y been substftuted f r o m the case may agree to set the calendar, draw a jury, cor.i?cct aLI routine matters includinq . ~ arraignments, preliminarv pretrial conferences in cxv11 cases, and ether Ratters which do not go to the merits of the case, if the judge La jurisdiction authorizes t h e same. (hi The first district judge who has been substituted - * ~ o r disq~alifieii for cause shall have the duty of alirng in a i l subsequent district judges. It shall be the duty of the clerk of court to stamp the name of the judge to which the case is assigned on the face of the initial pleading, camplaint, order to show cause, or information and all copies thereof. (c) When 2 j ~ d g e is assiped to a cause =or ( 2 0 ) cc3secuti-o days after service of summons, or te? (10) days after service of an order to show cause, information or other initiating docnnent, and no notion for substitution of judge has heea filed w i t h s a i d time Fer-od, the riqht to move fcr - s&stitli--on 04- a judge shall be deemed wzived. If the presiding judge removes himself or herself, or a new judge ass~mcs jurisdiction of the cause by virt~e o f the ir!terxal operating rules of a multi-juege csurt, the r-Jght to nave for ~cbstitutiorr o f a judge is reinstated, unless i-avli,ng heen previously used in the cause by the moving party, a r i d the . ~ - m e periods shall run a~e-w. A f t e r the time period s h ; l l . , - . have run as t.c: the origr,nai parties to the proceedlrg, no party who is ioined or intervenes thereafter shall ha-ve any - '~ rlgnt of substitutioc, except that one third party defendant . ' who is not an or;glnal party in any pending cese may have a right of one substitiition igithin twenty (20) days a%ee tk!e service upon t h e t i party defenclart of a third party complaint. id) The motion for substitutior shall not be effective . = Lor any purpose unless a filing lee is paid tc the clerk of the *.istrier court i n the amount set by law, No filing fee is rewired by law in criminal cases. ief A ? : ? motion .for substitution which i s not timely file2 i s voiz for ail purposes. The jadge for whoin e~bstitution i s eouglit shii?,l. have junisdictien t s determine tiaeliness, and if the motion for substitutioc is n r A t i m e : y , shall make an order declaring the motion void, ( 5 ) h e a new jjdg4n has accepted juris&iction, the clerk of cour.t shi;lT mail a copy of the asslrmption o f jurisdiction 40 the original judge and to each attorney or party of record. ~h~ C ~ ~ . C . : a c: - o f sersvice sb a 7 7 be attached to the assunptir of gurisdicticjn form i.n the c o u r t file. (0) When a new trial is orderes. k b ; r the d L s t r i c t oourC - I each adverse partq shall therev~pon be entitled to one xotion for substitu"-,on o f judge in t h e manner p e e herein. When on appeal the judgm~ect or -rder "A appealed froa is " . reversed or modified and the cause is re?&a?aea to the d i s t r i c t court for a ilea; trial, or when a summary judqrner~i: or * . jciigment of ersnics~l. is reversed an6. the cause remanded, each adverse part11 shall thereu~oc he entitled to one motion for substitutian of 7udge in the manner provided hcrein~ . . S;<:h aotion rr,-;st be f i l c ? d , with the recr.;jred d fiilng fee in ~, civai chsesr within twenty ( 2 0 ) days after a new trial has beeE ordered by the district court or after the remik_dtitur - . from the S~lprcjme Court has been filed w i t h the -?.strict court, Mo other right of " r t h e r substitutio:~ shall arise ir T cases renansed by the supreme court. ~r crimfral cases, no further rig3t of substitution sha.11 arise when the cause is remanded for resen-tencing . 3-1-805. Disqualification for cause. - -- ~ ~ S Q r j ~ ~ , ; ~ l C A T Z l i ? FOR CAUSE 7 . T h i s section i s limit& in i t s ap~~ication tc j~dges presicjirrg i district courts, justice o f the peace courts, - - municipal courts, s m a r ~ claims ccurts, and city courts. - ~ 1. W ' t e n e : w r e r a party to any proceeding in any ool~rt - . sha.1l r1l.e ar; affiearrit al?-egirg facts showing personal bias . * or prejudice of the presiding judge, such :uage shall proceed no further in the cause, Lf the affida-:it is filed egainst a district ju≥, the matter shall be referred to the Montana Supreme Court:, whereupon the Chief Justice shall assigr. a district judge to hear "he matter. If the affidavit is filed against a judge of a r.unicipa1 court, justice ccurt, or c i t y court, any district judge presiding in the district OF the court involved may appoint either a fust-ce of the pss~ce, a . - municipal jrldq-e or a city court ~ u a g e , to hear any such pr~ceeding , (a) ? . h e affic'lavif for diqualificition must b e filed nore tknn thirty (30) days before the date set for hearing or &.*: - - iL &el. (b) The ~Pfidavit shall be accompanied by a certificate .- - . of counsel of recard +-hat the azrrdavit has been made in good - ' faith. Ac ; : f z d s v i t will be deernod not to have been mdde qosd faith if it i s bzsed soiely on rulizgs in the case made ' - by the cha.l-ienged juage and frcn which an appeal could have Seen taken. [c) Any affidavit which 45 not in proper form and Which dces not allege showing personal bias or prejudice n a y be set aside as void. id1 The j u6ge appointee? to preside at a * . ' aisquailfication proceeding may assess attorneys fees, costs and damages against any party or his attorney who files such disyualj.fica"_ion without rejgorlabie cause and thereby hinders, delays or takes urconscionzble ad-vantage of any other party, or the court.