Park County District Court, Montana Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

In the specified overlapping proceedings, the petitioner or counsel must promptly notify the lower court of the District Court action.

When any action for declaration of invalidity of marriage, legal separation, dissolution of marriage, or child custody action is filed in the District Court between parties who are also parties to a self-help temporary order of protection proceeding in a court of limited jurisdiction, counsel for the petitioner or the party who is the petitioner in the lower court proceeding shall promptly notify said lower court of the District Court action and move the lower court to suspend all further proceedings therein and certify the pleadings and any orders of that court to the Clerk of the District Court.

CRITICAL

Counsel or the party must notify the appropriate lower court and law enforcement agencies when this Court modifies or dissolves a certified lower-court order.

Counsel or the party shall notify the appropriate lower court and appropriate law enforcement agencies of any modification or dissolution of lower court orders certified to this Court and subsequently modified or dissolved by this Court.

CRITICAL

Substantive issues in pending or anticipated cases may not be discussed ex parte with the Court unless all opposing counsel are present or notified, or have given prior approval or stipulation.

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

CRITICAL

All communications with the Court must go through the District Court Administrator or Clerk of Court.

All communications with the Court shall go through the District Court Administrator or the Clerk of Court to ensure that no ex parte communications take place and to ensure judicial economy.

WARNING

Any motion not ruled on at least two weeks before trial should be brought to the Court's attention.

Any motion not ruled on at least two weeks before trial should be brought to the Court's attention.

WARNING

Contact

Email to clerk

Email filings should be submitted to parkdcc@mt.gov for Park County or clerkofcourt.sweetgrass @mt.gov for Sweet Grass County.

Email filings should be submitted to parkdcc@mt.gov for Park County or clerkofcourt.sweetgrass @mt.gov for Sweet Grass County.

INFO

After an unsuccessful meet-and-confer, either party may contact the Court Administrator to arrange an informal discovery conference, whether or not a motion has been filed.

If the parties do not resolve the dispute after a meet and confer, whether or not a Motion is filed, either party may contact the Court Administrator to arrange an informal discovery conference with the Court.

INFO

After the discovery period set by the Case Scheduling Order has run, any party may request a trial date from the Court Administrator.

At any time after the discovery period has run, according to the Case Scheduling Order, any party may move for, or request, a trial date from the Court Administrator.

INFO

A party may provide the court with helpful documents or legal authority before the informal discovery conference.

Any party may provide to the court, in advance of the informal discovery conference, documents and/or legal authority that may assist the Court in understanding the dispute.

INFO

If a matter has been under advisement for more than 30 days, each affected party is encouraged to send the Court a reminder letter or Notice of Issue identifying the matter and the date it was taken under advisement.

In the event the Court has under advisement any matter (including but not limited to a motion or decision in a bench trial) for a period of more than thirty (30) days, each party affected thereby is encouraged to send to the Court a reminder letter or "Notice of Issue" particularly describing the matter under advisement and stating the date the matter was taken under advisement.

WARNING

Fax filings should be sent to the listed fax number for the relevant county.

Fax filings should be submitted to 406-222-4128 for Park County and 406-932-5433 for Sweet Grass County.