Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts?
Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts (MNC) is a coalition of Montana individuals and organizations that introduced Constitutional Initiative 132 (CI-132) to make sure judicial elections in Montana remain nonpartisan. Nearly 2,500 Montanans have endorsed CI-132 and over 200 volunteers were trained to help gather petition signatures.
Why do we need this initiative? Why now?
During Montana’s 2023 and 2025 legislative sessions, Montana voters witnessed an unprecedented surge in politicians attempting to make judicial elections partisan. It’s time to secure our courts from the threat of political control and prevent judges from being forced to pick a political party. This measure ensures that judges remain fair and unbiased and are accountable to the citizens of Montana, not politicians, party bosses, or political donors.
What does the initiative say?
CI-132 is simple: the ballot language reads “CI-132 amends the Montana Constitution to require that judicial elections remain nonpartisan.” This preserves Montanans’ right to judicial elections free from political party influence and prevents judges from being forced to pick a political party.
How does this initiative change how judges are elected in Montana?
CI-132 does not change how judges are elected in Montana but instead defends Montana’s long tradition of nonpartisan courts free from outside influence by securing our constitutional rights. Montana has been electing judges via nonpartisan elections since 1935. That’s 90 years of electing judges based on their record and qualifications, not their political party.
CI-132 ensures that all elected judges at all levels remain nonpartisan, from Montana Supreme Court to small claims courts. This enshrines Montana’s longstanding tradition of judicial elections free of political party influence into our beloved Constitution and keeps our judicial elections in the hands of voters and our judges accountable to the constitution, not politicians.
What steps did Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts take to qualify CI-132 for the ballot?
MNC submitted our initiative on August 18, 2025. The initiative spent three months working through the government review process, including winning a case challenging Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s politically biased ballot language rewrite at the Montana Supreme Court, getting approval to gather signatures in late November 2025. Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts, alongside over 200 volunteers, gathered over 103,000 signatures by the June 19, 2026 deadline.