US EditionState employee sues Gov. Gianforte over appointment of lawmaker to agency director job
MONTANA, AUG 6 – The lawsuit claims Gianforte's appointment of a sitting legislator violates Montana's Constitution and cites four similar appointments raising concerns over separation of powers and political influence.
- On Wednesday, Jordan Williams filed suit in Lewis and Clark County District Court, alleging Gov. Greg Gianforte’s appointment of Marta Bertoglio violates the Montana Constitution’s disqualification clause.
- Discussion from the 1972 Constitutional Convention shows the suit cites a disqualification provision and the 1927 Montana Supreme Court defining civil offices as “any public office not of a military character.”
- Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed Director Bertoglio on June 16, and she resigned her House seat following the appointment, according to the lawsuit.
- Gianforte’s office declined to remove Bertoglio, and the Attorney General’s Office, via Solicitor General Christian Corrigan, also declined to seek her removal, while the lawsuit seeks her removal and benefits halt.
- The lawsuit alleges potential quid pro quo risks, arguing such appointments undermine the separation of powers and target part-time citizen legislators earning $128.86 per day.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Lawsuit alleges ‘unconstitutional’ governor appointments
A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of former state representative Marta Bertoglio’s appointment to the position of director of the Department of Commerce was filed in state district court this week. Gov. Greg Gianforte appointed Director Bertoglio on June 16, and…
Lawsuit claims appointment of Clancy lawmaker as Commerce director was unlawful
A lawsuit was filed this week, seeking to block the appointment of a state lawmaker to run the Montana Department of Commerce.Last month, Gov. Greg Gianforte picked Rep. Marta Bertoglio, R-Clancy, to be Commerce director. She resigned from the House to take the position.The Montana Constitution says state lawmakers cant be appointed to any civil office under the state, during the term for which he shall have been elected. The lawsuit, filed by a…
The Billings Gazette
State employee sues Gov. Gianforte over appointment of lawmaker to agency director job
Though Bertoglio is the only gubernatorial appointee party to the suit, there were a number of legislators appointed to a job by Gianforte during their elected term.
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