Montana Code Annotated 2019

TITLE 25. CIVIL PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 20. RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

VII. Judgment

Judge's Inability To Proceed

Rule 63. Judge's Inability to Proceed.

(a) Replacement Judge May Proceed. If a judge conducting a hearing or trial is unable to proceed, any other judge may proceed upon certifying familiarity with the record and determining that the case may be completed without prejudice to the parties. In a hearing or a nonjury trial, the successor judge must, at a party's request, recall any witness whose testimony is material and disputed and who is available to testify again without undue burden. The successor judge may also recall any other witness.

(b) Chief Justice to Assign. The successor judge shall be assigned by the chief justice of the supreme court by written order and may be from a different district.

History: En. Sup. Ct. Ord. No. AF 07-0157, April 26, 2011, eff. Oct. 1, 2011.