Montana Senator’s Bill Could Change the State Constitution
Montana State Senator Fred Thomas is attempting to change the Montana Constitution with Senate Bill 152.
Currently, state supreme court justices simply have to have been accepted to the state bar before they can run for office. Thomas' bill would make it so that Supreme court justices would have to have judicial experience before they can take office.
"We need to potentially look at qualifications," says Thomas. "Instead of just 'I am a trial lawyer and I'm tired of suing people for a living so I'm going to run for the Supreme Court.'" Thomas hopes the change will make the court less politicized.
Fred Thomas:
Constitutional amendments are often a long-shot, but Thomas believes his bill has a strong chance of making it out of the legislature.