Columns
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began just over two years ago, and the devastating war that has followed has been a catastrophe for Ukrainians and Russians alike. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed, tens of thousands more have been wounded and maimed, and an almost incomprehensible level of destruction has occurred across much of Ukraine and parts of Russia. While the immense human and material toll of the war cannot be undone, the fate of democracy, freedom and the overall peace of the world still hangs in the balance as Ukraine continues to resist Vladimir’ Putin’s brutal invasion. The hard-right members of Congress and Donald Trump hav...
The Credit Card Competition Act has emerged as a controversial bill that Congress is expected to take up early this year. Under the guise of increasing competition in the credit card market, this legislation presents some serious threats to small businesses and credit card users. As is so often t...
“Equal justice under law” is such a foundational principle in our constitutional republic that the phrase is carved in stone above the entrance to the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, here in Montana, it appears that justice is not applied equally. ...
Excuse me as I ponder eternity — briefly. Like it or not, this is the essence of … uh, aging. As I wrote a year ago: “ …once you actually hit it — that three letter word, “old” — watch out: “An aged man (as William Butler Yeats pointed out, as he sai...
It seems like every day I open the newspaper and read a new decision issued by a Montana court. I’m not a lawyer, but it’s becoming apparent to me that our courts are increasingly out of control. There have been many questionable decisions issued by our courts in recent years. One decisi...
My family and I are amusement park geeks. Always have been. Non-amusement park aficionados see the long lines as a deterrent. Why spend so much time in line just waiting for the 90 seconds of roller coaster wonderment? Seems like a waste. Admittedly, there is a lot of waiting time while ...
Montanans have always been serious about governing themselves in the way they see fit. While we have a representative government—i.e. one in which we elect officials to represent, lead and act on our behalf in governing—Montanans have never ceded complete control over our lives, liberty and...
It takes a lot to surprise me anymore when it comes to politics or government. But suing to block funding for special needs kids to get an education that works for them? That’s a new low. In case you missed the news in January, a lawsuit has been filed seeking to overturn the 2023 Legislature&...
We are in the ‘amore’ season of the year. Love. Kisses. Hearts. Roses. Romantic cards. Candles. Champagne. A box of chocolates. On February 14 we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Or, better put, some of us do. For many years, the day had personal significance to me because I ...
As a practicing lawyer, I am often reluctant to criticize decisions made by a court. However, last week, the Montana Supreme Court rendered a decision involving legislative rules which is absolutely stunning. One of the basic principles of our system of government is the separation of powers. Under ...
