US EditionKnudsen's lawyers tell justices to toss suspension
- On March 28, 2025, the Montana Supreme Court heard arguments regarding a recommended disciplinary action against Attorney General Austin Knudsen, stemming from his handling of a dispute between the Montana Legislature and the judicial branch in 2021, with a panel of justices and substitute judges presiding over the hearing.
- The case originated from a separation of powers dispute in 2021, where Knudsen, representing Republican legislators, issued subpoenas for internal emails from Supreme Court justices and other judicial staff, leading to accusations that he violated ethical obligations by not promptly returning the emails and making statements accusing justices of improper conduct.
- The Montana Commission on Practice, following a two-day trial, recommended a 90-day suspension for Knudsen, arguing that he violated the ethical code for lawyers, while Knudsen's defense team continues to argue for the case's dismissal, citing First Amendment rights and questioning the Commission's procedures.
- During the hearing, Solicitor General Christian Corrigan, representing Knudsen, urged the court to dismiss the suspension, arguing that ethical rules shouldn't stifle criticism of judges and that disciplining Knudsen could damage confidence in the judiciary, while Disciplinary Counsel Tim Strauch advocated upholding the Commission's recommendation and drew the court's attention to Knudsen ignoring a Supreme Court order.
- Chief Justice Cory Swanson acknowledged the messy nature of the case, while other judges voiced concerns about attorneys disparaging the court, and the court didn't immediately rule on the matter, with a decision pending after arguments where Strauch blamed the court, the commission, himself, and his predecessor.
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Bozeman Daily Chronicle+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Montana AG Knudsen, Office of Disciplinary Counsel argue before state Supreme Court
Chief Justice Swanson says discipline case ‘a mess from start to finish’.
·Cherokee County, United States
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Knudsen's lawyers tell justices to toss suspension
Attorneys for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen argued on Monday that the disciplinary process against him was too fl awed for the Montana Supreme Court to uphold a recommendation to suspend the state's top law enforcement official from practicing law…
·Helena, United States
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The Billings Gazette+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Montana AG's lawyers tell Supreme Court to toss aside 90-day suspension recommendation
Solicitor General Christian Corrigan urged justices to dismiss the suspension recommended by the Commission on Practice for AG Austin Knudsen, a 90-day stretch Corrigan called “highly irregular and unprecedented.”
·Billings, United States
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Total News Sources18
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
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