A RESOLUTION REGARDING CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE NO. 132 (CI-132) AND NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS IN MONTANA
WHEREAS, the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council is the governing body of the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Montana, by the authority of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Fort Belknap Tribes approved on the 13 day of December 1935, and
WHEREAS, under the Constitution and By-Laws of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, the Community Council is charged with the duty of protecting the health, security and general welfare of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, and
WHEREAS, the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council is the duly elected governing body of the Fort Belknap Indian Community and is authorized to adopt resolutions concerning matters affecting the interests and welfare of the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine members of the Fort Belknap Indian Community; and,
WHEREAS, Montana’s judicial elections have historically been conducted on a nonpartisan basis, with Montana holding nonpartisan judicial elections since 1935; and,
WHEREAS, Montana Constitutional Initiative No. 132 (CI-132) is a proposed amendment to the Montana Constitution concerning the manner in which judicial elections are conducted; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed constitutional provision would add a new Section 12 to Article VII of the Montana Constitution stating: “Nonpartisan Judicial Elections. Judicial elections shall remain nonpartisan”;
WHEREAS, judicial decisions will affect Montana residents and communities in matters including family, civil, criminal, traffic, property, and other proceedings;
WHEREAS, the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council recognizes the importance of an independent judiciary and of that judicial proceedings must being conducted according to applicable law and regulations and the Montana Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council has considered the potential implications of CI-132 for the citizens and government of the Fort Belknap Indian Community, and,
WHEREAS, after consideration of the foregoing, the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council has determined that it is in the interests of the Fort Belknap Indian Community to endorse Constitutional Initiative No. 132 (CI-132);
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council hereby expresses its support for Constitutional Initiative No. 132 (CI-132).
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Council Officers are hereby delegated the authority to sign all documents and take all actions necessary to implement this action.
Fort Belknap Indian Community Council