Montana Supreme Court Blocks Term Limit Ballot Purge

The Montana Supreme Court unanimously rejected a request from Attorney General Austin Knudsen to block a lower court ruling that allows Republican lawmakers Llew Jones and Steve Fitzpatrick to remain on the November ballot. The dispute began when Knudsen issued a legal opinion restoring a strict interpretation of state term limits, which would have disqualified several legislators from returning to office without a specific break in service. This opinion reversed a 2012 interpretation by former Attorney General Steve Bullock.

State Representatives Jones and Fitzpatrick filed a lawsuit in Helena to block the opinion, arguing that the timing—days before the ballot certification deadline—was an attempt to steal the election. District Judge Christopher Abbott granted a preliminary injunction on August 19, ruling that the lawmakers demonstrated a plausible case and that maintaining the legal status quo was necessary. Judge Abbott further criticized Senate President Matt Regier for requesting the legal opinion for partisan reasons after Jones had already won his primary.

Knudsen appealed the decision to the Montana Supreme Court, seeking an immediate administrative stay. The high court denied the request, stating that the Attorney General had manufactured the urgency by raising the issue so close to the deadline. As a result, Jones and Fitzpatrick are expected to appear on the ballot for Senate District 9 and House District 24, respectively.