Court Opinion

ID: 4554787
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-11 23:08:10.108059+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:26:21.296772
License: Public Domain

08/11/2020

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                      Case Number: DA 20-0295

                                        DA 20-0295

 ROBYN DRISCOLL; MONTANA DEMOCRATIC
 PARTY; AND DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL
 CAMPAIGN COMMI1 FEE,

                Plaintiffs and Appellees,

       v.                                                            ORDER

 COREY STAPLETON,IN HIS OFFICIAL
 CAPACITY AS MONTANA SECRETARY OF
 STATE,
                                                                           AUL)   1 1 2020
                Defendant and Appellant.                                Bowen Greenwood
                                                                      Clerk of Supreme Court
                                                                         State of Montana

      Proposed Intervenors-Appellants Speaker Greg Hertz on behalf of the House of
Representatives of Montana and President Scott Sales on behalf of the Montana State
Senate (Legislators) move this Court to intervene in this matter. Plaintiffs/Appellees
Robyn Driscoll, Montana Democratic Party, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign
Committee (Plaintiffs) and Intervenors Western Native Voice, Montana Native Vote,
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck, Blackfeet Nation, Confederate Salish and
Kootenai Tribes, Crow Tribe, and Fort Belknap Indian Community (Intervenors) object to
the intervention. Defendant/Appellant Corey Stapleton (Stapleton) does not object to the
intervention.
       The Plaintiffs, Legislators, and Intervenors agree an applicant must satisfy each of
the following four criteria to be entitled to intervene as a matter of right: 1) be timely;
2)show an interest in the subject matter ofthe action; 3)show the protection ofthe interest
may be impaired by the disposition ofthe action; and 4)show the interest is not adequately
represented by an existing party. Sportsmenfor 1-143 v. Mont. Fifieenth Judicial Dist.
Court, 2002 MT 18, ¶ 7, 308 Mont. 189, 40 P.3d 400; Estate of Schwenke v.
Becktold, 252 Mont. 127, 131, 827 P2d 808, 811 (1992).
       We conclude Legislators have failed to satisfy these four criteria and, as such, are
not entitled to intervene. First, Legislators motion to intervene is not timely. We generally
look to four factors in considering whether a motion to intervene is timely:"(1)the length
oftime the intervenor knew or should have known of its interest in the case before moving
to intervene;(2) the prejudice to the original parties, if intervention is granted, resulting
from the intervenor's delay in making its application to intervene;(3)the prejudice to the
intervenor if the motion is denied; and (4) any unusual circumstances mitigating for or
against a determination that the application is timely." In re C.C.L.B., 2001 MT 66,¶ 24,
305 Mont. 22, 22 P.3d 646.
       There are two pending District Court actions challenging the Ballot Interference
Prevention Act and the election-day receipt deadline for absentee ballots—this case and
Western Native Voice v. Stapleton, No.20-0377(13th Judicial Dist. filed March 25,2020).
This case was commenced five months ago on March 13, 2020. Preliminary injunction
was granted by the District Court on May 22,2020. Legislators failed to seek intervention
in the District Court action. Over three months ago, Stapleton filed notice of appeal,
petitioned this Court for supervisory control, and sought a stay of the District Court
proceeding. On May 27,2020,this Court denied the writ ofsupervisory control but stayed
the District Court's order enjoining enforcement of the election-day receipt cutoff and
ordered expedited appeal briefing to "allow sufficient time for consideration and ruling in
advance ofpreparations for the November general election." Under that Order,the briefing
in this case was completed on August 10, 2020.1 Legislators do not assert they did not
know or should not have known ofthis case and their interest in the case since it was filed
and have failed to assert any legitimate reason they could not have sought timely
intervention.

1 Appellant's Brief was filed June 26, 2020, Appellees and Intervenors' answer briefs were filed
July 27,2020, and Appellant's Reply was filed August 10, 2020.
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       Although Legislators attached their proposed opening brief to their motion,
apparently to show they were not intending additional delay, this is insufficient to avoid
prejudice to the original parties were intervention granted. This matter is highly time
sensitive and granting intervention will significantly delay consideration by extendi ng the
briefing to permit a response to Legislators' brief as well as a reply thereto. In sum,
Legislators have failed to demonstrate their motion for intervention to be timely.
       Further, Legislators have not shown an interest in the subject matter ofthe action or
that their interest may be impaired by the disposition of the action. Rather, Legislators
assert they have a claim under Article, I, Section 4, ofthe U.S. Constitution, which neither
the Secretary nor the Attorney General acting on his behalf have standing to assert. While
this may be accurate, now is not the time for Legislators to assert a claim not raised below.
We generally will not address an issue raised for the first time on appeal, and the assertion
ofsuch does not support intervention.
       Finally, Legislators have failed to demonstrate their interest is not adequately
represented by Stapleton represented by the Attorney General. The Legislators' proposed
brief, attached to their motion, makes clear their arguments are overlapping to those of
Stapleton and the Attorney General is vigorously asserting the legislature has "a
compelling interest in preserving the integrity of its election process" and the need to
"protect its constitutionally granted exclusive authority." Accordingly,
       IT IS ORDERED that Legislators' Motion to Intervene is DENIED.
       The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel of record.
       DATED this ) — day of August, 2020.
    SU xi 4-14,_
        Justices 'Cc—.

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