D. Bradley v. G. Gianforte ( 2021 )

03/24/2021 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA Case Number: OP 21-0125 OP 21-0125 DOROTHY BRADLEY,BOB BROWN, FILED MAE NAN ELLINGSON,VERNON FINLEY, MAR 2 4 2021 and MONTANA LEAGUE OF WOMEN Bowen Greemovoori Clerk of Supreme VOTERS, Rtate Court 11Anntana Petitioners, ORDER v. GREG GIANFORTE, Governor ofthe State of Montana, Respondent. Petitioners seek to invoke this Court's originaljurisdiction pursuant to M.R. App.P. 14(4)to issue a declaratory judgment on the alleged unconstitutionality of Montana Senate Bill 140, signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte on March 16, 2021. The petition requests that this Court accept original jurisdiction, enjoin any acts that might be taken in furtherance ofSB 140 pending full consideration by this Court, direct such briefing as the Court deems suitable, and,after due consideration, determine SB 140 to be unconstitutional. In accordance with M.R. Civ. P. 5.1(a) and M.R. App. P. 27,Petitioners also have filed a Notice of Constitutional Question and served it on the Montana Attorney General. Having reviewed the Petition and its attached Appendix, this Court deems it appropriate to obtain a summary response. Therefore, in accordance with M. R. App. P. 14(7), IT IS ORDERED that the Respondent, the Attorney General, or both, are granted fourteen days within which to prepare, file, and serve a response(s) to the Petition for Declaratory Judgment. Upon receipt of the summary response, the Court will determine whether to order more extensive briefing, order oral argument,or decide the matter upon the initial filings, including consideration ofthe request for injunctive reliefpending disposition. M.R. App. P. 14(7)(b). The Clerk is directed to provide copies ofthis Order to counsel for Petitioners and to all parties on whom the Petition has been served. DATED this day of March,2021. For the Court, Justice, ✓