LTE: Dear Editor, Vote yes to CI-132

Dear Editor,

Vote yes to CI-132

Here's why:

CI-132 is a simple measure that adds just FIVE words to the MT Constitution: "Judicial Elections shall remain Nonpartisan."

Note the word REMAIN. This constitutional initiative preserves the 90-year tradition we have had of voting for judges in nonpartisan elections since 1935, when we stopped Montana's powerful Copper Kings from buying judges to rule in their favor.

Montana judges interact with people statewide in all sorts of circumstances; it could be for criminal charges, employment or property disputes, or even child custody cases. Only the law should be considered by the judges when deciding these cases, not political pressure from groups or enormous out-of-state donations.

Imagine going to a football game for your favorite team, and the opposing team is paying all the referees. What is your team going to expect in return? Every call will come into question. Are the calls fair and based on the rules or on who is paying them? Even if there is no actual bias, the appearance of a conflict of interest will undermine everyone's confidence in the integrity of the game. The same is true for our court system-Montanans don't want politics in their courts. Vote yes on CI-132.

Joyce Pearson

Ennis, Montana

Originally published in The Whitehall Ledger on 10/14/2026