Judge: Gianforte appointing sitting legislator to head Commerce Dept. was unconstitutional

By: Darrell Ehrlick

Outlets: Daily Montanan

Published: April 21, 2026

Words: 1,018

Last Updated: 3 months, 1 week ago

Body Text Preview

A Lewis and Clark County District Court judge has ruled that Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte unconstitutionally appointed the Montana Department of Commerce director because she was a sitting legislator at the time.

It is not the first time Gianforte has plucked a sitting legislator and appointed them to a position within the executive branch of government, but it is the first challenge of the second-term Republican governor’s appointment-making ability.

Judge Elizabeth Best ruled that …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us