Opinion ID: 880691
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Acceptance of Jurisdiction

Text: Since this cause is an original proceeding in this Court, the first question to be met is whether the petition and the responses thereto present a cause sufficient to move the remedial jurisdiction of this Court. The Supreme Court of this state is given general supervisory control over all of the state courts. Art. VII, § 2(2), Mont. Const. Our Rule 17(a), Montana Rules of Appellate Procedure, recognizes that the institution of original proceedings in the Supreme Court is sometimes justified by circumstances of an emergency nature, when supervision of a trial court other than by appeal is deemed necessary or proper. We have found that an assumption of original jurisdiction is proper when (1) constitutional issues of major statewide importance are involved; (2) the case involves purely legal questions of statutory and constitutional construction; and (3) urgency and emergency factors exist, making the normal appeal process inadequate. State ex rel. Greely v. Water Court, State of Montana (1984), 214 Mont. 143, 691 P.2d 833. We will accept declaratory judgment proceedings where the issues have impact of major importance on a statewide basis, or upon a major segment of the state, and where the purpose of the declaratory judgment proceedings will serve the office of a writ provided by law ... Grossman v. State, Department of Natural Resources (1984), 209 Mont. 427, 436, 682 P.2d 1319, 1324. We find that the criteria for exercising original jurisdiction are present in this case and have accepted jurisdiction for the purpose of determining what relief should be granted.