Looks like the Montana Supreme Court has been playing politics and doesn't want to get caught.
MT Supreme Court quashes subpoena seeking internal judiciary e-mails
Latest twist in battle between GOP lawmakers, judges
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The subpoena, issued by Thursday by Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Keith Regier of Kalispell, is the latest twist in Republican efforts alleging that some Montana judges are improperly taking sides on political issues – including a new law that gives Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte more power to appoint judges.
The subpoena also is related to a lawsuit currently before the Montana Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the new law giving Gianforte the wider power to appoint judges.
Republican lawmakers, who support the law, have been asking to see internal judicial documents, in an attempt to show whether members of the Supreme Court have expressed opinions about it. Gianforte signed the law just four weeks ago.
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https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-politics/mt-supreme-court-quashes-subpoena-seeking-internal-judiciary-e-mails