Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes electing supreme court justices by district.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the Chief Justice and the 6 associate justices are elected in separate districts at the general election (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Chief Justice to be selected by the majority vote of the 7 justices at the first meeting of each year after a general election effective after the general election in 2024 (Sec. 1).

• Defines the 7 Supreme Court Districts by the number and names of the judges (Sec. 2):

• First district: Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, and Toole Counties;

• Second district: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Meagher, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, and Wibaux Counties;

• Third district: Yellowstone County;

• Fourth district: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Granite, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Powell, and Ravalli Counties;

• Fifth district: Flathead, Glacier, Lincoln, and Sanders Counties;

• Sixth district: Gallatin, Madison, and Silver Bow Counties; and

• Seventh district: Mineral, Missoula, and Lake Counties.

• Prohibits the removal of any justice currently holding office during the term for which the justice was elected or appointed and specifies that any current justice planning to seek re election must run under the new district they are assigned to (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text