I am very proud to be a resident and citizen of Montana. Among the many examples of courage and principle that make this state great is its independent, nonpartisan judiciary. Let's keep it that way by voting yes on CI-132. 

Our country has benefitted from a system of checks and balances that has prevented any one branch from wielding too much power in our government and ultimately has kept power in the hands of the people. Our legislatures exist to implement the will of the people via elected representatives, and our courts ensure the laws they pass adhere to the constitution. This is a system that has worked well for 250 years, and one we should be careful to preserve.

I'm writing today to encourage your support and vote for CI-132. This important constitutional amendment would serve to better protect Montana's court system.

I am writing to urge my fellow Montanans to vote YES on Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132) to protect a fundamental right: the right to a fair day in court.

I’ve had the opportunity to work in a number of countries where people were trying to figure out exactly what justice and democracy meant because they were experiencing them for the first time. Some of the phrases I heard used to describe the American justice system were: “Justice is blind,” “Equal justice under the law,” and “Justice is impartial.”

Kalispell, Mont. – Kalispell Chamber of Commerce has formally endorsed Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132), a measure that ensures Montana’s judicial elections remain nonpartisan. 

“The Kalispell Chamber is endorsing CI-132 because our small businesses need fair, impartial, and consistent rulings on the cases they bring before our courts,” said Kalispell Chamber President and CEO Lorraine Clarno. “Business owners depend on the consistent application of the law so they can operate in a predictable environment that helps them create jobs and keep costs down. We need to keep politics out of our courts so our businesses can continue to contribute to the economic prosperity and sustainability of our community.”

Montana’s small business owners work hard, create jobs, and build communities. They are also some of the Montanans most likely to face litigation as they navigate the complexities of employment, contracts, partnerships and insurance disputes. They need judges who are experienced, fair and consistent in their application of the law.

Montanans value fair, unbiased courts and judges who interpret our laws and constitution consistently and reliably. That’s why we’ve elected our judges in nonpartisan elections for over 90 years. Unfortunately, partisan money threatens to infect our courts with fickle partisan politics, and that’s bad for business in Montana.

That’s why I support Constitutional Initiative 132, to keep Montana’s judicial elections nonpartisan. The business community needs a steady hand from judges.

I am a firm believer in the separation of powers in our government. The founding father’s design of one branch curtailing the ambitions of another is fundamental to our system. For that reason, I am a strong supporter of CI 132. This voter initiative to amend our state constitution to read “Judicial elections shall remain non-partisan” would codify what has been the case since 1935.

Party should never be a consideration for a judge and that is why I’m voting yes on CI-132.

When judges enter the courtroom, their only concern should be interpreting and enforcing the law and the Constitution. As a voter, what I care about is their qualifications and record. I want to know about their experience as a lawyer — were they a public defender, a family attorney, or a prosecutor? If they were already a judge, what cases have they ruled on before? That experience is far more relevant to how they will interpret the law.

Call me old fashioned but I happen to believe our judges should be elected based on their record and qualifications, not their politics. This November initiative CI-132 is on the ballot which is a very simple initiative that would add one sentence to our Montana constitution. Its aim is to insure that judicial elections in Montana remain NONPARTISAN. Voting YES on CI-132 will help protect impartial courts and hold them accountable to our Constitution, not any political party. Since 1935 the Montana judicial system has remained nonpartisan, free of party influence or money. Please vote YES on CI-132 to keep it that way.

Folks with an inquisitive nature like to be well-informed using facts before making decisions.

On November 3rd, Montana ballots will offer us the chance to thoroughly consider Constitutional Initiative CI-132, already endorsed by 2,000+ neighbors and friends.

Montanans will soon have an opportunity to protect an essential principle of our judicial system: judges should be elected based on their qualifications, experience, integrity and record—not the letter that might appear beside their name.

Montana has had nonpartisan elections for local and state judges since 1935. There is no good reason to stop now, so vote yes for Constitutional Initiative 132 on the November 2026 ballot.

Helena, Mont. – Yesterday, the Montana Secretary of State declared Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132) officially qualified for the November 2026 general election ballot via its website. CI-132 preserves nonpartisan judicial elections and ensures judges remain elected based on their record and qualifications, not politics. 

Three of the 10 citizen-proposed ballot measures have been finalized for Montana’s general election in November.

Two of them, if passed, would install new provisions in the Montana Constitution; one deals with judicial elections and the other is an attempt to fortify the ballot initiative process itself.