A RESOLUTION REGARDING CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE NO. 132 (CI-132) AND NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS IN MONTANA
BE IT RESOLVED BY FORT PECK DEMOCRATIC TRIBAL COMMITTEE OF THE MONTANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
WHEREAS, the Fort Peck Democratic Tribal Committee is the duly elected Democratic Tribal Committee and is authorized to adopt resolutions concerning matters affecting the interests and welfare of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribal members and its tribal citizens; and
WHEREAS, Montana's judicial elections have historically been conducted on a nonpartisan basis, with Montana holding nonpartisan judicial elections since 1935; and
WHEREAS, 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 VIl of the Montana Constitution stating: "Nonpartisan Judicial Elections. Judicial elections shall remain nonpartisan";
WHEREAS, judicial decisions may affect Montana residents and communities in matters including family, civil, criminal, traffic, property, and other proceedings;
WHEREAS, the Fort Peck Democratic Tribal Committee recognizes the importance of an independent judiciary and of judicial proceedings being conducted according to applicable law and the Montana Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Peck Democratic Tribal Committee has considered the potential implications of CI-132 for the tribal citizens of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes; and
WHEREAS, after consideration of the foregoing, the Fort Peck Democratic Tribal Committee has determined that it is in the interests of the tribal citizens the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes to endorse Constitutional Initiative No. 132 (CI-132);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fort Peck Democratic Tribal Committee hereby expresses its support for Constitutional Initiative No. 132 (CI-132); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Charman of the Fort Peck Democratic Tribal Committee is authorized to communicate this resolution to appropriate state, tribal, and local governmental entities and other interested parties; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect upon adoption by the Fort Peck Democratic Tribal Committee.
The Fort Peck Democratic Tribal Committee