Justices seek to uphold partisan endorsement ban

HELENA (AP) — Six of the seven Montana Supreme Court justices have asked a federal judge to uphold a rule that prevents judicial candidates from pursuing or accepting partisan endorsements.

Former Justice William Leaphart filed the friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of Chief Justice Mike McGrath and Justices Jim Rice, Michael Wheat, Patricia Cotter, Beth Baker and James Jeremiah Shea. Justice Laurie McKinnon is not part of the action.

The brief was filed in response to a federal lawsuit filed last month by Sanders County justice of the peace candidate Mark French. He sued to challenge the partisan endorsements rule in the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct. He said he intends to seek the endorsement of the Sanders County Republican Central Committee, which is led by his wife.