Opinion ID: 2613197
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: request for guidance on outrageous government conduct

Text: Finally, in refusing to dismiss the charges against the Petitioners, the District Court requested our guidance on the issue of outrageous government conduct. Having disposed of Petitioners' application for supervisory control on the basis that the District Court violated the doctrine of separation of powers and abused its discretion in denying the Lincoln County Attorney's motions, we decline to discuss outrageous government conduct. This Court does not issue advisory opinions. Sink v. School District No. 6 (1982), 199 Mont. 352, 362, 649 P.2d 1263, 1268. The District Court's desire for further guidance and development of the doctrine of outrageous government conduct must await a case and controversy directly involving that issue. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the petition for writ of supervisory control should be and is hereby GRANTED as to the twenty-two remaining Petitioners, and this matter is remanded to the District Court for dismissal, without prejudice, of the actions pending against those Petitioners. IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED THAT the petition for writ of supervisory control as to Defendants Prior and Hendricks should be and is hereby DISMISSED, as the actions pending against them have already been dismissed by the District Court. IT IS HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED THAT the Clerk mail a copy hereof to counsel of record for the Petitioners; Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General; Scott Spencer, Lincoln County Attorney; and to the Honorable Robert S. Keller, District Judge. TURNAGE, C.J., and HARRISON, GRAY, HUNT TRIEWEILER, and NELSON, JJ., concur. WEBER specially concurs as follows: I concur with and join in the Opinion and Order of the majority with the exception of Part IV  Separation of Powers and Abuse of Discretion. I agree that because the Tilton evidence could not be used, and because there was insufficient other untainted evidence on which to continue prosecutions, the County Attorney's motions met the good cause and furtherance of justice requirements of § 46-13-401(1), MCA. I also agree with the conclusion that the denial of that motion by the District Court constituted an abuse of discretion. I do not agree with the separation of powers discussion and holding which follows. In substance the majority concludes that the District Court may not interfere in the prosecutorial functions of the Attorney General and the County Attorney without violating the separation of powers embodied in Article III, Section 1 of the Montana Constitution. That constitutional issue was not raised and a decision upon that issue is not required by this opinion. As pointed out in the majority opinion, under § 46-13-401(1), MCA, the District Court is granted authority to dismiss a criminal complaint or information when such dismissal is in furtherance of justice and good cause for dismissal is demonstrated. Clearly that section requires an exercise of discretion by the District Court. Here this Court has agreed that denial of the motion was an abuse of discretion. I am unable to see how such an abuse of discretion under authority specifically given to the District Court somehow becomes interference in the prosecutorial functions and a violation of the separation of powers embodied in Article III, Section 1. If it was a constitutional breach to have denied the motion, then it would appear that if the court on its own motion makes an order of dismissal as provided in the statute, then it could be charged with violating the separation of powers doctrine. I would not so hold. I would exclude any reference to the separation of powers doctrine in the majority opinion. With that exception, I join in the Opinion and Order.