Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 25. CIVIL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 24. MONTANA UNIFORM RULES FOR THE JUSTICE AND CITY COURTS

Part 1. Rules

Multi-Judge Courts -- Allocation Of Cases

Rule 2. Multi-judge courts -- allocation of cases.

(a) If there is more than one justice of the peace in the same county, or more than one city judge in the same city, the judges shall by agreement divide the court caseload, civil and criminal, among the judges.

(b) In the event that an agreement cannot be reached, upon application of one of the judges listed above, the district judge of the judicial district or the chief district judge in a multi-judge district, shall enter an order which equitably apportions the caseload among the judges considering whether the judges are full or part time.

(c) All law enforcement agencies within the court's jurisdictional area shall be informed of the order dividing the jurisdictional area. Complaints shall be filed with the court in compliance with the division order of the judges. A complaint improperly filed shall be reassigned to the proper judge and not dismissed.

History: En. Sup. Ct. Ord. Aug. 31, 1994.