NEW RULES TAKE EFFECT MONDAY, OCTOBER 1ST

Several new rules of practice and procedure take effect MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2007:

Montana Rules of Appellate Procedure

Montana Rules of Evidence, 407, 803, 806

PUBLIC MEETING: Wednesday, June 20th, at 9:00 a.m.

The Montana Supreme Court will hold a public meeting next Wednesday, June 20th, at 9:00 a.m. in the 4th Floor Attorneys’ Lounge, Justice Building, Helena.  The proposed agenda follows:    

AGENDA

MINUTES

PAY PLAN and JDIP POLICIES- Office of Court Administrator

PUBLIC DEFENDER COMMISSION APPOINTMENT - Gray

HJ 16 - Gray

EXPEDITING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CASES ON APPEAL - Gray

REVISED PETITION FOR REHEARING RULE 19 M. R. App. P. - Nelson

MONTANA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE REVISIONS — Nelson 

APPOINTMENT TO JUDICIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE - Warner

APPOINTMENT TO COMMISSION ON SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS –Gray

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO MONTANA RULES OF EVIDENCE [except Proposed Amendment to Rule 804(b) will be discussed at a later time]-Nelson and Cotter

Notice of Supreme Court Public Meetings will be given by posting the agenda on the Montana Courts Website @ — courts.mt.gov– and delivering a copy of the agenda to the Office of the Clerk of this Court. Minutes of the Supreme Court Public meetings are available in the office of the Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court.

ORAL ARGUMENTS — LISTEN LIVE!

Today’s oral arguments will be streamed live through the web.  The arguments will also be archived.  You can access the live broadcasts using either a Windows Media Player or a Real Audio Player.  The links are below:

• 9:30 a.m.:  State v. Dunn, DA 06-0538

Windows Media Player link

Real Audio Player link

(Criminal Law; Search and Seizure; Warrantless Search; Exigent Circumstances; Community Caretaker Doctrine; Fruit of the Poisonous Tree)

• 1:30 p.m.:  State v. PPL, Montana, DA 06-0477

Windows Media Player link

Real Audio Player link

(Constitutional Law; Equal Protection; Taxation; Property Tax; Property Assessment)

If you have any problems with the streams, please contact mtlawlibrary at mt dot gov.  Also, your feedback on this new service is welcome.   Please address all correspondence to mtlawlibrary at mt dot gov.  Thank you!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Advanced Search Page Launched!

About two weeks ago, the State Law Library quietly launched our new Advanced Search page for our Montana Supreme Court Cases database.   This advanced search function allows you to combine multiple criteria for a case into a single search.  For example,

• Recent Briefs:  You can now search for all recently filed briefs by choosing the Document Type of All Party Documents and then by adding a date range.  You get to choose the length of time — all briefs for the past week, month, or whatever time frame you like.  Please note:  we will no longer be posting a list of recent briefs on this Newsfeed since you can now access them easily online. 
• Recent Opinions:  Although we still offer a quick link to the opinions issued in the past 30 days, you can now choose to view all documents with a Document Type of Opinion/Order within a different date range.  So, if you want to find an Opinion issued some time in the past six months, you can do it!
• Citation Search:  You can now search by MT Citation (Montana’s neutral citation format).  If you don’t have an MT Citation, try our Party Name Search instead.  You can enter either one or two different party names (e.g., State of Montana and John Doe).  It’s the fastest and easiest way to find a case if all you have is a citation. 
• No more irrelevant briefs in your results:  Are you looking for an Opinion on a subject and not just a Reply Brief that mentions that topic randomly in a footnote?  Try limiting your results by choosing the Document Type of Opinion/Order.  That way, your results will only include Supreme Court opinions that discuss your topic. 
• Advanced Full Text Searching:  You can now search the database for documents containing any combination of 3 words or phrases.  Try using the OR function for synonyms or acronyms.  Use the AND function to limit your results by specific facts or legal concepts. 
• And many more . . . :  The advanced search page also lets you search by the author of the opinion, the names of the attorneys on appeal, case type, issues presented, trial court judge, and trial court case number.  Check it out!  If you have any questions, contact the Reference Librarian at 406-444-3636 or mtlawlibrary at mt dot gov for more information.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Press Release from Chief Justice Karla Gray

The Chief Justice issued this press release today. 

ANNOUNCEMENT: FREE CLE at State Law Library

In conjunction with our Public Access Westlaw program, the State Law Library will host a free one-hour CLE program on “Efficient On-Line Legal Research – Making the Most Efficient Use of Your Research Time.”  The program will be presented by a representative of Thomson West, Mr. Patrick Froehling, Esq.  See below for details.

What:     Free, one-hour CLE presentation on Efficient Online Legal Research

When:    March 13, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. OR 1:30 p.m.

Where:   State Law Library conference room

                   215 N. Sanders St., Helena

How:         FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED — BY RESERVATION ONLY

                    Seating is very limited!

                RSVP to:  Tammy Hinderman, Reference Librarian

                 thinderman@mt.gov or 406-444-3636

ANNOUNCEMENT: Public Meeting, next Tues., 1/30

The Montana Supreme Court will hold a public meeting next Tuesday, January 30th, at 1:30 p.m.  For the agenda and location, click here. 

ANNOUNCEMENT: Transcript of State of Judiciary Address Available

The transcript of the 2007 State of the Judiciary Address, delivered by Chief Justice Karla Gray on January 18, 2007, is now available on the Supreme Court’s website.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Supreme Court Briefs and Opinions Now Available!

The Montana Supreme Court Cases database is once again available online!  We thank you for your patience while the database has been undergoing major changes and apologize once again for the inconvenience.

To search the briefs and opinions:

1.  Simply Click here, or

2.  Visit www.searchcourts.mt.gov, or

3.  Click on the Opinions button at the top of our homepage, www.lawlibrary.mt.gov.

The briefs and opinions are currently searchable in 3 ways:

1.  Search by Supreme Court Case Number/Docket Number

2.  Search the full text of the opinions and briefs for a particular word or phrase

3.  View all cases decided within the past 30 days

 Additional search options will be added in the future, including the capability to search by party name, date, district court judge and case number, attorney name, and opinion author.  

 If you have any questions about the new database, contact the Reference Librarian for more information at mtlawlibrary@mt.gov or 406-444-3636.

ANNOUNCEMENT: State Law Library of Montana Blog is Launched

Welcome to the State Law Library of Montana’s blog!  We will be posting notices of Supreme Court opinions and orders, weekly updates on recently filed briefs in the Supreme Court, book reviews, research tips, and library announcements. 

**HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS SERVICE**

 **The most recent posts are accessible at the bottom of the State Law Library’s homepage, www.lawlibrary.mt.gov.  The full blog is accessible at www.mtlawlibrary.wordpress.com. 

  **Sign up for an RSS feed to have notices of new opinions and briefs delivered to your news reader automatically.  If you would like help setting up a news reader, contact the Reference Librarian for more information, mtlawlibrary@mt.gov or 406-444-3636.

  **Published Opinions and Orders will categorized by subject by law library reference staff.  As a result, you will be able to use the Categories listed on the left hand side of the blog to access multiple opinions regarding a single topic.  For example, if you are interested in cases involving Attorneys’ Fees, you can click on the Attorneys’ Fees button on the left hand side of the blog to view multiple cases on this issue.

 **We want your feedback!!  Please let us know how we can make this service more helpful to you.  Contact the Reference Librarian with your suggestions at mtlawlibrary@mt.gov or 406-444-3636.