Petroleum County District Court, Montana Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

The prohibition against 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

Communications with the Judge must go through the Court Administrator or Law Clerk; direct emails or calls are prohibited except when responding to the Judge’s direct communication.

Communication with the Judge will go through the Court Administrator or the Law Clerk (e.g. visit, email, or phone call). Direct emails or phone calls to the Judge are prohibited unless you are responding to the Judge who emailed or called you directly.

CRITICAL

If the parties settle any issues, counsel must inform the Court before presenting evidence, testimony, or argument.

If the parties settle any issues, counsel must inform the Court of the settlement prior to presenting any evidence, testimony, or argument.

CRITICAL

Recording or photography during court sessions or recesses requires the presiding judge’s prior written permission, requested 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.

CRITICAL

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

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

A party who believes a potentially violent situation might arise must notify the Court Administrator sufficiently in advance of the hearing to allow 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.

CRITICAL

The Court will not engage in ex parte conversations or review ex parte documents; such documents will be returned to the sender and/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.

WARNING

A party intending to appear by Zoom in the listed circumstances 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

Contact

Phone

Parties and counsel permitted to appear by Zoom must provide court personnel a telephone number for delays or connection issues.

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.

WARNING

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

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

WARNING

Court staff may not provide legal advice.

Court staff may not offer legal advice.

INFO

Counsel may present an otherwise-uncovered emergency or a request for 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

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.