Archived Story

Gazette lawyer-discipline challenge dismissed
Posted on Dec. 2
By the Associated Press

BILLINGS - The Montana Supreme Court has declined to hear a petition from The Billings Gazette, challenging a court rule that keeps some lawyer disciplinary records secret.

But in an unusual move, the high court invited the newspaper and the public to normally closed meetings aimed at revising the contested rule.

A panel of five justices Friday dismissed a petition the newspaper filed in November.

It asked the Supreme Court to revise a lawyer disciplinary rule that keeps some records confidential. The newspaper argued the rule violates the public's right-to-know guarantee in the Montana Constitution.

The case began three years ago, when the newspaper sought the disciplinary records of Moira D'Alton. The former Billings deputy city attorney was found to have violated rules for lawyer conduct while working as a city prosecutor.
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