Title: MATTER OF INTERNAL OPERATING RULE 1

State: montana

Issuer: Montana Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

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IN RE ADOPTION OF INTERNAL ) A
OPERATING RULE REGARDING } ornate 242009
CHILD CONFIDENTIALITY, ) Le
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thas come to our attention that our current method of maintaining the confidentiality
of minors who are the subject of child abuse or termination of parental rights proceedings is
insufficient. Heretofore, we have been attempting to maintain the confidentiality ofthese
children by referring to them by their initials in our opinions. However, by referring to their
parents by their parents’ actual names, it is unlikely that we are maintaining the
confidentiality of these children. It is not difficult to discern the identity of children when
their parents are clearly identified

‘Therefore, in order to provide greater confidentiality for minor children who are the

 

subject of child abuse and termination of parental rights cases,
ITIS HEREBY ORDERED thatthe following Internal Operating Rule be adopted as
Rule 10, Section VII "General," and the current Rule 10, Section VII, be renamed Rule 1.
10. _Inall opinions regarding the abuse and neglect of children and the termination
of parental rights pursuant to Title 41, Chapter 3, MCA, the Cour shall attempt to maintain
the confidentiality of children by refering to both the children and the parents involved by

 

 

their initials or first names only as justice requires.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court shall prepare and mail
copies ofthis Order to:
‘The Code Commissioner and Director of Legal Services for the State of Montana;
‘The District Judges of the State of Montana;
The Clerks of the District Courts ofthe State of Montana;
‘The Clerk of the United States District Court ofthe State of Montana;
 

‘The President and Executive Director of the State Bar of Montana with the request
that this order be published in the next available issue of The Montana Lawyer: and

‘The State Reporter Publishing Company withthe request that this Order be published
in the State Reporter.

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