HELENA – Montana Attorney General Tim Fox released the following statement Wednesday on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ second ruling in seven months, upholding his office’s defense of Montana’s contribution limits in Lair v. Motl:
“I’m pleased the Ninth Circuit rejected further attempts to challenge Montana’s campaign contribution limits. The voters of Montana approved the current contribution limits, and it’s the responsibility of the Attorney General’s office to defend Montana’s laws. I’m proud of the hard work Assistant Attorney General Matt Cochenour and the rest of my team put in to defend the will of the people.”
Montana’s contribution limits were passed by the voters in 1994, through a citizen initiative. The Lair case challenging the contribution limits has been ongoing since 2011.
In October 2017, a three-judge panel upheld Montana’s contribution limits. Opponents to the contribution limits filed a motion for rehearing, which the court rejected today.
The final order from the court stated, “The full court was advised of the petition for rehearing en banc. A judge requested a vote on whether to rehear the matter en banc. The matter failed to receive a majority of the votes of the non-recused active judges in favor of en banc consideration.”
To see the full decision by the Ninth Circuit denying rehearing, visit here.
Click here to see the full decision issued by the Ninth Circuit last October.
Related:
Federal appeals court panel reinstates Montana’s campaign contribution limits
Federal judge strikes down Montana’s campaign contribution limits
Request for Special Legislative Session Sparked By Campaign Contribution Limits
Challenge to Montana’s Campaign Contribution Limits
