The Price of a Seat: The 1899 Montana Legislative Bribery Scandal
In 1899, the Montana state legislature became the center of a national scandal when copper tycoon William A. Clark allegedly bribed lawmakers to secure a seat in the United States…
The Precinct 34 Crisis: Montana’s Chaotic Path to Statehood
In 1889, the newly admitted state of Montana faced a constitutional crisis when disputed election returns from Silver Bow County’s Precinct 34 led to the formation of two competing state…
Appeals Court Restores Legal Order for American Rail Infrastructure
A federal appeals court has overturned a previous ruling that held BNSF Railway liable for two asbestos-related deaths in Libby, Montana. The court determined that the railroad was legally required…
Montana Attorney General Restores Order by Holding Defiant City Accountable
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has officially launched an investigation into the city of Helena regarding potential violations of the state's sanctuary city ban. This legal inquiry follows a city…
The Secret Ballot Revolution: Montana’s 1889 Electoral Reform
In 1889, Montana became one of the first U.S. states to adopt the Australian ballot system, fundamentally changing how elections were conducted in the Mountain West. This reform replaced the…