TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR MONTANA CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE NO. 132 (CI-132) CONCERNING NONPARTISAN STATE JUDICIAL ELECTIONS
WHEREAS, the Chippewa Cree Tribal Business Committee is the governing body of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Montana, pursuant to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chippewa Cree Tribe; and
WHEREAS, the Chippewa Cree Tribal Business Committee is charged with promoting and protecting the health, security, and general welfare of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and its members; and
WHEREAS, Montana has historically conducted judicial elections on a nonpartisan basis under state law, and Constitutional Initiative No. 132 (CI-132) proposes to establish that requirement expressly in the Montana Constitution; and
WHEREAS, CI-132 would add Section 12 to Article VII of the Montana Constitution to provide “Nonpartisan Judicial Elections. Judicial elections shall remain nonpartisan”; and
WHEREAS, Tribal members and Tribal entities may appear before Montana state courts in matters in which state jurisdiction is properly established, and the fair and impartial administration of justice is an important governmental interest; and
WHEREAS, CI-132 concerns the election of Montana state judicial officers and does not purport to alter the sovereignty, governmental authority, sovereign immunity, or jurisdiction of the Chippewa Cree Tribe or its Tribal Court; and
WHEREAS, the Chippewa Cree Tribal Business Committee recognizes the importance of judicial independence and, following its consideration of CI-132, determines that expressing support for nonpartisan Montana state judicial elections is consistent with the interests of the Tribe;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chippewa Cree Tribal Business Committee hereby expresses its support for Montana Constitutional Initiative No. 132 (CI-132), concerning nonpartisan elections for Montana state judicial officers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this expression of support shall not be construed as consent to an expansion of state jurisdiction over the Chippewa Cree Tribe, its members, lands, or governmental activities, nor as a waiver or limitation of the Tribe’s sovereign immunity, governmental authority, or independent judicial jurisdiction; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution expresses the Business Committee’s governmental position only and does not, standing alone, authorize campaign expenditures, contributions, or the use of restricted funds for ballot-measure advocacy.
The Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation
Phone: (406) 395-5705 – Finance Office
(406) 395-4282 or 4321 – Business Committee
96 Clinic Road
Box Elder, Montana 59521