Opinion ID: 889502
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Whether this Court should accept jurisdiction of Best's petition.

Text: ¶ 13 Best requests that we assume jurisdiction of this original proceeding because the regulation of the practice of law is exclusively within the jurisdiction of this Court, the issues presented are of statewide importance, and there is no other adequate or speedy remedy. As Best notes in her petition, the preamble to the RLDE provides the following: The Supreme Court of the State of Montana... declares that it possesses original and exclusive jurisdiction and responsibility under Article VII, Section 2(3), of the 1972 Montana Constitution and the provisions of Chapter 61, Title 37, Montana Code Annotated, in addition to its inherent jurisdiction, in all matters involving admission of persons to practice law in the State of Montana, and the conduct and disciplining of such persons. [Emphasis added.] ¶ 14 Article VII, Section 2(3) of the Montana Constitution provides that this Court may make rules governing appellate procedure, practice and procedure for all other courts, admission to the bar and the conduct of its members. Thus, this Court has a constitutional mandate to fashion and interpret the Rules of Professional Conduct. In re Rules of Professional Conduct, 2000 MT 110, ¶ 9, 299 Mont. 321, 2 P.3d 806. ¶ 15 In addition, we have determined that the regulation of lawyers in Montana `is a matter peculiarly within the inherent power of this Court, subject, of course, to constitutional guarantees....' In re Engel (Engel II), 2008 MT 215, ¶ 6, 344 Mont. 219, 194 P.3d 613, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S.Ct. 619, 172 L.Ed.2d 456 (2008) (quoting Goetz v. Harrison, 153 Mont. 403, 404, 457 P.2d 911, 912 (1969)). ¶ 16 Furthermore, this Court has the authority to entertain original proceedings and to exercise supervisory control under Article VII, Section 2 of the Montana Constitution and M.R.App. P. 14(3) and (4) (formerly M.R.App. P. 17(a)). See Inter-Fluve v. Eighteenth Jud. Dist. Court, 2005 MT 103, ¶ 17, 327 Mont. 14, 112 P.3d 258; Plumb v. Fourth Jud. Dist. Court, 279 Mont. 363, 369, 927 P.2d 1011, 1015 (1996). In Plumb, we recognized that original jurisdiction may be exercised where constitutional issues of major statewide importance are involved; where the case involves purely legal questions of statutory and constitutional construction; and where urgency and emergency factors make the normal appeal process inadequate. Plumb, 279 Mont. at 369, 927 P.2d at 1015. It is not necessary for all three circumstances to be present for this Court to exercise jurisdiction. Plumb, 279 Mont. at 369, 927 P.2d at 1015. ¶ 17 Best was ordered to appear before the COP on January 21, 2010, for a private admonition. That order stated that the COP, in making its determination, considered the complaint and the report prepared by the ODC. However, as Best noted in her petition to this Court, she was denied access to the ODC's report and recommendation, and neither the ODC nor the COP identified the conduct or the rule which they claim she violated. Indeed, Best was not made aware of the actual reason for the disciplinary action to be taken against her until the COP filed its response to her petition before this Court. ¶ 18 As Best stated in her petition, [p]ermitting private admonitions without regard to due process poses serious detriment to all Montana lawyers, and chills responsible and professional practice of law. This inures to the detriment of all Montana citizens. ¶ 19 We agree with Best that this case involves issues of major statewide importance and we accept jurisdiction of her petition.