HR 4 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Resolution to censure Bozeman Municipal Judges J. Colleen Herrington and Karolina Tierney

House Resolution 4 is a resolution from the Montana House of Representatives seeking to censure Bozeman Municipal Judges J. Colleen Herrington and Karolina Tierney and call for their immediate resignation. The resolution alleges the judges engaged in official misconduct and malfeasance in office. It details accusations that they unlawfully suspended the bonding privileges of a licensed bondsman, John Looney, ordered him to pay bond forfeitures he was not responsible for, and conditioned the restoration of his privileges on withdrawing complaints against them. This action is based on claims that the judges performed acts forbidden by law and exceeded their lawful authority.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 9, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC2691.pdf → HR0004_1.pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from LC 2691 to HR 4.1 and updated with the primary sponsor's name. A new provision was added stating that judges knew their authority to suspend bonding privileges belonged solely to the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, strengthening the argument for official misconduct.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the same misconduct allegations, but the added text clarifies the jurisdictional conflict regarding bonding privilege suspensions.

REQUIREMENT

Added a statement that judges knew their authority to suspend bonding privileges resided solely with the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document title from LC 2691 to HR 4.1 and added the sponsor's name.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Committee

(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Introduced

(H) Introduced

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors