Stillwater County District Court, Montana Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Counsel must notify the local judge reasonably in advance of proceedings and, with the Court Administrator’s assistance, arrange necessary personnel and facilities for the case and outside judge.

It shall be the duty of counsel, reasonably in advance of any proceedings to be taken therein, to notify the local judge and with the Court Administrator’s assistance make arrangements for all personnel and facilities necessary to accommodate the needs of the case and the outside judge.

CRITICAL

Counsel must tell the Court whether the case will proceed to a jury trial at least 14 days before trial, unless the Court orders another time; failure may lead the Court to vacate and reset the trial date.

Counsel shall inform the Court no later than fourteen (14) days prior to trial regarding whether the cause will proceed to a jury trial, or at such other time that the Court may order. Failure to advise the Court shall be grounds for the Court to vacate and reset the trial date. The next regularly scheduled case shall then have priority for trial.

CRITICAL

Counsel must notify the appropriate County Clerk by noon on the preceding business day of matters to be placed on the law-and-motion calendar.

Counsel shall notify the Clerk of District Court in the appropriate County by 12:00 p.m. on the preceding business day of matters to be placed on the law and motion calendar.

CRITICAL

Substantive issues in pending or anticipated cases may not be discussed ex parte with the Court without opposing counsel present or notified, unless counsel has given prior approval or stipulated.

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

Contact

Phone

Phone

(406) 322-5406

Schedule contested matters, matters involving factual questions, or presentations over 30 minutes through the Court Administrator at the listed phone number, unless the Judge has scheduled them.

Unless scheduled by the Judge, contested matters, matters involving questions of fact, or matters requiring more than thirty (30) minutes for presentation shall be scheduled through the Court’s Administrator at (406) 322-5406.

CRITICAL

All communications with the Court must go through the District Court Administrator or the 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

The Court will not consider an ex parte matter if the opposing party is represented by counsel, or if the party’s location is known but the party has not been served.

No ex parte matter will be considered if the opposing party is represented by counsel or if the opposing party’s location is known but the party has not been served.

WARNING

Counsel must contact the appropriate county Clerk of Court to determine which cases require mandatory electronic filing.

Counsel shall contact the appropriate Clerk of Court to determine which cases implicate mandatory electronic filing.

WARNING

Consult the appropriate County Clerk of Court to determine law-and-motion dates and times.

Consult the Clerk of Court for each County to determine the time and date of law and motion.

INFO

Emergency matters may be mailed or delivered to the Court with a request for immediate attention.

Emergency matters requiring the Court’s attention may be mailed or delivered to the Court with a request for the Court’s immediate attention.

INFO

If a matter has been under advisement for more than ninety days, each affected party is encouraged to send the Court a reminder letter describing the matter and stating when 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 ninety (90) days, each party affected thereby is encouraged to send to the Court a reminder letter particularly describing the matter under advisement and stating the date the matter was taken under advisement.

INFO

Contact

Email

Counsel may request issuance of an order in person or by email.

Requests for the issuance of an order may be made by counsel in person or via email.