3-1-904. Public comment. (1) The governor shall establish a reasonable period for reviewing applications and interviewing applicants that provides at least 30 days for public comment concerning applicants.

(2) Each applicant who has the qualifications set forth by law for holding judicial office and who receives a letter of support from at least three adult Montana residents by the close of the public comment period provided for in subsection (1) must be considered a nominee for the position.

(3) The total time from receipt of notice of a vacancy until appointment may not exceed 100 days.

(4) The application, public comment, and any related documents are open to the public except when the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure.