Fergus County District Court, Montana Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Communication with the Judge will go through the Court Administrator or the Law Clerk (e.g. visit, email, or phone call).

Communication with the Judge will go through the Court Administrator or the Law Clerk (e.g. visit, email, or phone call).

CRITICAL

Parties intending to use special equipment must make arrangements with the Court Administrator at least five business days before trial.

If the parties intend to use any special equipment the parties must make the appropriate arrangements at least five (5) business days prior to the date of the trial with the Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

Direct emails or phone calls to the Judge are prohibited, except when responding to an email or call initiated by the Judge.

Direct emails or phone calls to the Judge are prohibited unless you are responding to the Judge who emailed or called you directly.

CRITICAL

Substantive ex parte discussions about pending or anticipated cases are prohibited unless all opposing parties are present or notified, or they have given prior approval or stipulated.

There will be no ex parte discussion with the Court of substantive issues involving pending or anticipated cases, without the presence of, or notice to, all opposing parties, or without prior approval or stipulation of opposing parties.

CRITICAL

The Court will not engage in ex parte conversations or review ex parte documents; such documents will be returned to the sender or forwarded to counsel of record.

The Court will not engage in conversation of an ex parte nature or review any ex parte documents, such as letters, and the document will be returned to the sender and/or forwarded to all counsel of record.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

A party or counsel permitted to appear by Zoom must provide court personnel with a telephone number where they can be reached about delays or connection issues.

(11) Any party or counsel that have been permitted to appear by Zoom either via these rules or court order must provide the Court Administrator, and/or other Court personnel with a telephone number at which they may be reached in case of delay or issues with the connection.

CRITICAL

The prohibition on ex parte contact with the Judge also applies to the Clerk of Court’s Office and the Judge’s staff.

The same prohibition against ex parte contact with the Judge, applies to the Clerk of Court’s Office and the Judge’s staff.

CRITICAL

Counsel must notify the Court in writing when a matter becomes contested.

Counsel is required to notify the Court in writing if a matter has become contested.

WARNING

A violation of the ex parte communication rule may result in sanctions against the offending party or attorney.

A violation of this rule may result in imposition of sanctions against the offending party or attorney.

WARNING

Broadcasting, recording, or photography in or near the courtroom during court sessions or recesses requires the presiding judge’s prior written permission, and written requests must be made through the Clerk of Court’s Office.

Broadcasting, television, video or voice recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto during sessions of Court, or recesses between sessions, shall be allowed only by prior written permission of the presiding judge. Written requests shall be made through the Clerk of Court’s Office.

WARNING

A party who believes a potentially violent situation might arise must notify the Court Administrator sufficiently in advance of the hearing for security measures to be arranged.

In any type of case where a party, whether counsel or pro se, believes that a potentially violent situation might arise, they shall notify the Court Administrator sufficiently in advance of the hearing so that appropriate security measures can be taken.

WARNING

Court staff may not provide legal advice.

Court staff may not offer legal advice.

WARNING

Contact

Email

Transcript requests must be directed to the Tenth District Court Reporter, Deidre Taber, at dtaber@mt.gov.

All requests for transcripts must be made directly to the Tenth District Court Reporter, Deidre Taber, at dtaber@mt.gov.

WARNING

A party intending to appear by Zoom must notify the Court Administrator or other Court personnel before the hearing.

A party intending to appear by Zoom must notify the Court Administrator or other Court personnel prior to the Hearing.

WARNING

The Court Administrator monitors scheduling-order deadlines, and failure to respond diligently to monitoring inquiries may result in sanctions, including removal from the trial calendar or loss of trial priority.

The Court Administrator will monitor deadlines established by Scheduling Order(s). Failure to diligently respond to monitoring inquiries may result in sanctions, including removal from the trial calendar or loss of trial priority status.

INFO

Counsel may apply to the Court for consideration of a situation inadequately covered by the rules or for relief from their application.

If counsel believe in good faith they have a situation which is not covered adequately by these rules, or need relief from the application of these local rules, counsel may, upon application, present such matters to the Court for its consideration.

INFO

Counsel may present an emergency or request relief from these rules to the Court for consideration.

If counsel have an emergency which is not covered adequately by these rules, or need relief from the application of them, counsel may present such matters to the Court for its consideration.

INFO

Legal research tools and materials may be requested in writing when required by statute or case law, subject to the presiding judge’s approval.

When required by statute and/or case law, legal research tools and materials will be made available upon written request of the individual or entity and approval by the presiding judge.

INFO

Court staff may provide pro se litigants general assistance to facilitate compliance with the rules.

This does not prohibit general assistance by the Court Staff to pro se litigants to facilitate compliance with these rules.