Court Opinion

ID: 9411197
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-07-25 22:18:00.009541+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:21:05.441761
License: Public Domain

07/25/2023

             IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                      Case Number: PR 23-0001

                                      PR 23-0001
                                  _________________

 IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF:

 ELIZABETH PETERSON,

              Petitioner,
                                                                   ORDER
       vs.

 SCOTT JOHNSON,

              Respondent.
                                  _________________

       The Honorable John C. Brown, presiding Judge in Cause No. DR-11-366C in the
Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County, has forwarded to this Court a motion
filed by Petitioner Elizabeth Peterson via counsel. Judge Brown explains that Peterson’s
filing, captioned Motion to Change Venue, Motion for Disqualification for Cause and Brief
in Support, appears to target Standing Master Magdalena Bowen for disqualification, but
Judge Brown ascertained that some statements made in the Motion to Change Venue may
be an attempt to disqualify all District Court Judges in the Eighteenth Judicial District.
Judge Brown further advises this Court that he rescinded the Order of Referral to Standing
Master Bowen and that he has recovered jurisdiction of the case.
       Section 3-1-805, MCA, provides that an affidavit for disqualification for cause must
allege facts showing personal bias or prejudice of the presiding judge. In this instance,
Peterson does not allege any facts showing personal bias or prejudice of Judge Brown, who
is the presiding judge in this matter. Therefore further disqualification proceedings under
the statute are not warranted.
       IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion to disqualify in Gallatin County
Cause No. DR-11-366C is DENIED.
      The Clerk is directed to provide copies of this Order to the Clerk of the District
Court of Gallatin County for notification to all counsel of record in Cause No.
DR-11-366C, and to the Honorable John C. Brown.

                                          2                               Electronically signed by:
                                                                                Mike McGrath
                                                                   Chief Justice, Montana Supreme Court
                                                                                July 25 2023