Montana

Montana Court Overturns State Law Defining Gender in Binary Terms, Citing Constitutional Violations

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MISSOULA, Mont. — In a significant legal decision, a Montana judge on Wednesday declared a state law that restrictively defined sex in binary terms to be unconstitutional. The ruling by Judge Leslie Halligan of the Montana Fourth Judicial District Court spotlighted the ongoing debate over gender identity rights within the state. The law, known as Senate Bill 458, attempted to rigidly categorize “female” and “male” under the Montana Code, restricting these definitions strictly to biological sex at birth. Challenged by a coalition account of transgender, intersex, and Two-Spirit Montanans, the plaintiffs argued that the definitions … Read more

Montana Court Overrules Law Dictating Strict Gender Definitions

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Helena, MT – A Montana law that sought to tightly restrict the definitions of ‘male’ and ‘female’ for the purposes of changing sex designations on birth certificates has been invalidated by a state judge. The ruling, handed down late Friday, marks a significant win for transgender rights advocates who argued that the law was discriminatory and overly restrictive. The law, which was enacted last year, restricted the ability of transgender people to alter their sex designation to situations where the individual had undergone surgical changes. This narrow definition was challenged in court on grounds that … Read more

Montana Family Champions Tighter DUI Laws Following Tragic Loss, Launches Gift Card Initiative to Encourage Sober Driving

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HELENA, Mont. — Tragedy struck the community of Columbia Falls last March when Robert “Bobby” Dewbre, a local resident, was fatally injured by a drunk driver while crossing the street. The incident, which resulted in the driver being sentenced to the maximum allowable 18 months on misdemeanor charges due to limitations under current state law, has fueled significant legislative advocacy efforts. Bobby’s mother, Beth McBride, fueled by the current legal limitations, spearheaded a grassroots movement calling for tougher DUI laws in Montana. As the executive director of the nonprofit Montana Bar Fairies, McBride and her … Read more

Montana Court Rules to Restore Public Access to Legislative Drafting Process

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HELENA, Mont. — A Montana district court judge has mandated the state’s legislature to provide public access to previously undisclosed documents related to the drafting of legislation. This ruling reaffirms a commitment to transparency in the legislative process, long upheld in the state for three decades. On Tuesday, Judge John Kutzman ruled in favor of a coalition comprising news media organizations and private individuals, who argued for the public’s right to view interactions and communications pertaining to bill drafts between lawmakers and citizens. The crux of the ruling is the requirement for the Legislative Services … Read more