I've worked in Montana's courts. Support CI-132 in November | Nancy Sweeney

By: Nancy Sweeney

October, 6 2026

Published in the Helena Independent Record

I’m confident few, if any, Montanans want more partisan influence in our politics. In fact, Montanans decided almost a century ago that our judicial elections should be nonpartisan. Politicians in Helena who want to make our courts partisan are not in line with the will of voters, and we have the chance to show them we want to keep our politics out of our courts by voting yes on CI-132 this November.

I worked in our court system for over 35 years and watched judges set their personal prejudice and outside influence aside to make fair and impartial decisions. This is what is required to provide fair and impartial justice for all Montanans. Fair and impartial justice is fundamental to our democracy, not just a catchy slogan. It gives us confidence that court decisions will be based on the facts and the law and not the whims of the rich and powerful or a political party.

Nonpartisan judicial elections keep prejudice, influence and personal gain out of our courts. We see this play out when judges recuse themselves from a case if they have a personal connection. The same happens with a jury, which is another safeguard against bias in the courtroom. Our justice system is designed to keep personal opinion and individual gain from influencing a final determination.

If we don’t protect our nonpartisan judicial elections, we lose confidence in the fair and impartial nature of our courts. That’s why I am a proud Montanan for Nonpartisan Courts and will be voting yes on CI-132. Politicians may blame political bias for results they don’t like, our current safeguards, including our nonpartisan judicial elections, keep our courts fair and impartial. Let’s make sure our judges continue to be elected based on their records and qualifications so they can rule on the facts and the law, no politics. I hope you will join me in voting YES on CI-132 to keep our courts impartial.

I am a proud Montanan for nonpartisan courts. Far too much time and energy have been wasted trying to solve a problem which doesn’t exist and make our courts partisan. No matter how many times politicians blame judicial bias for unsuccessful litigation, the current safeguards, including nonpartisan judicial elections, help our courts remain fair and impartial. The judiciary needs to remain nonpartisan, eliminating political distraction and helping judges make decisions based on the facts and the law. I hope you will join me this coming November and vote YES on CI-132, to keep Montana Courts nonpartisan.

Nancy Sweeney is a fourth-generation Montanan. She worked in the Lewis and Clark County Clerk of District Court’s office for 37 years and was the elected clerk of district court from 1994 to 2016.