Mixing politics with courts hurts working Montanans

Mixing politics with courts hurts working Montanans

Supporting Montana workers isn’t partisan. Our labor unions have members from both sides of the aisle and across the political spectrum. Creating economic opportunity and putting Montana workers first aren’t Republican or Democratic issues but things that affect the everyday lives of Montana workers and their families.

One thing Montana’s workers agree on is that our courts should remain nonpartisan. That’s why the Montana AFL-CIO has endorsed CI-132, the constitutional initiative on your ballot this fall to keep politics out of our courts. Workers may find themselves in front of a Montana judge for any number of reasons, including workers comp or contract disputes. They need to trust that the courts will rule fairly and impartially, based on the facts and the law, and not because of undue political influence.

Imagine standing in front of a Montana judge knowing that they were elected on a partisan platform. Could you trust that judge to rule impartially? Our legislature already gave the green light to political parties to contribute close to $90,000 to Montana judicial candidates, and we believe that’s a dangerous step toward mak...