Columns

A recent University of Montana survey confirms what legislators have been hearing from our constituents: Montanans are seriously concerned about several issues that they say are negatively impacting quality of life.  Among the findings, 90% think that urban sprawl eating up open lands is a problem, 84% are worried about Montana’s changing character, and 78% think outdoor recreation is becoming overcrowded. The 2023 Legislature passed legislation to take steps at addressing all of those issues, some of which is now in effect and some of which is currently being held up in court.  On the outdoor recreation front, the Legislature passed House Bill 846 to preserve Montanan...

Life is complicated. I think we can all agree to that.  But beyond life - well, lots of the details are complicated. Relationships. Families. Love. Deciding on the right toothpaste. Which properties to buy in Monopoly. Choosing between The Voice or American Idol. Survivor or The Bachelor. Texas Hold&...

Montana courts are the target of criticism from the political fringes. Recently it has ramped up. Don’t buy it, and I want to explain why.  For what it’s worth, here are my thoughts as a lawyer who practices in courtrooms across Montana. Our Montana courts are in great hands. Montana does...

We Montanans are passionate about wildlife. Doesn’t matter whether you hunt them, photograph them, hike to where you need binoculars just to see them as teeny dots, or just want to know they’re there - our home is special in large part because we share it with cool critters. We’ve heard ...

Walking home one evening, I came to an intersection. A family and a couple were waiting for the light, the family bantering about crossing against the light. “My knees won’t let me go that fast!” the grandma warned. “Ma’am, I’m with you!” the man from the couple c...

Yesterday the TV was playing in the background and I thought I heard Homer Simpson say one of what I thought was the most prolific quotes of all time. “Why can’t all hills go down?” This gave me cause to pause. Homer certainly has a point. Why do hills have to go up? Doesn’t tha...

Uncovering one of Montana’s most underutilized—and misunderstood—citizen rights Did you know that you have a constitutional Right to Know? The Right to Know appears alongside your right to Freedom of Speech, Right to Bear Arms and Right of Suffrage in the Montana Constitution, and i...

After last year’s deep winter, this season has come as a shock, and many of us are wondering “Where is the snow?” Skiing injuries have been prevalent, and with the lack of powderhound tourism, small mountains have been struggling.  While wetter snows have come to save the spring sea...

Liberty – Equality – Democracy: America and Americans are defined by their dedication to these founding principles--ideas that were fostered by the Enlightenment philosophers of the late 17th - 18th centuries, the Age of Reason, and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.&n...

During my second tour to Iraq as a U.S. Marine, my unit was tasked to help secure the Syrian border. We had received intel that Iran was sending weapons into Syria to smuggle across the border for use against American troops. At the same time, refugees from all over the country were flooding the border to es...