We are gathering information from all statewide candidates as a resource for the 2024 Primary Elections. Responses were limited to 200 words per question. Political attacks may have been removed, but otherwise, the responses are published unedited.

What is your full name, as it will appear on the ballot?  

Roger Roots

What is your age? 

56

Where do you live?

Livingston, MT

What is your education background? 

High school dropout. B.S. Sociology, MSU-Billings. J.D. & M.C.J., Roger Williams University (Rhode Island); Ph.D., Sociology, UNLV.

Please list your current and previous occupations.  

Currently a criminal defense lawyer. Formerly a professor of criminal justice and sociology. Also founder of Lysander Spooner University.

What motivated you to seek the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court ?

Intrusive, expansive government is the greatest threat faced by all mankind. Government is the greatest source of danger and violence in the lives of most people on earth. Governments murdered at least 70 million of their own people during the 20th century; and probably many more. [EDITOR’S NOTE: MTPR could not find evidence supporting this claim.] Since the late 1990s I have been an active Libertarian, seeking to educate and alert people to the evils of government.

What experience do you have in filing, storing or managing court records?

I have been an active lawyer since 2003 and am quite familiar with court clerical duties and operations.

What role does partisanship play in the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court?

It shouldn’t play much role at all. As clerk of the Supreme Court, I will always look out for the freedoms of the people of Montana as my highest priority.

Do you think there are ways the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court can improve?

Yes. There are times the Clerk must act as a check on the Supreme Court itself. As Clerk I will make sure the Court is always open for the people’s grievances.

What role should the Clerk play in the operations of the Montana Supreme Court?

The most important role is smoothness and efficiency. The Clerk must also act to protect Montana citizens from the Court, at times. The Clerk must, of course, serve the justices; but first and foremost he must serve the people of Montana.

BOZEMAN — Continuing our look at candidates for Montana’s Western Congressional District, we meet a Bozeman man running on the Libertarian ticket. MTN’s Kristin Merkel introduces us to Dennis Hayes.

Libertarian Congressional candidate Dennis Hayes from Tulsa, Oklahoma is running for a spot in Congress to investigate what he believes is corruption from several organizations and government entities.

“I’m going in to start investigating the Forest Service. I’m going to investigate the BLM. I want to investigate the court system, because I’ve been to court on this, and I’ve seen how corrupt the court systems are,” Hayes said. “And even with the illegals and stuff, this government is giving our money away to illegals and to different countries, and they don’t have the right to do that.”

See more MTN interviews with the candidates in Montana’s First Congressional District race:

Hayes says his campaign strategy is all word of mouth.

“Free publicity—I’m on Social Security, don’t have any money. I’ve had people wanting me to run, so that’s why I’m running. Because I’m a small minor, and I’ve been having problems with the Forest Service on their corruption and the corruption of the BLM.”

The primary election for the Congressional seat is on June 4.

The Libertarian ballot also has Ernie Noble listed as a candidate. MTN News was scheduled to interview him, but he did not show and has not returned our calls.

Election website Ballotpedia has him listed as unofficially withdrawn, but according to the Montana Secretary of State, he has not withdrawn through its office.

The Montana Legislature may consider “minor” changes to statutes related to public charter schools during its 2025 session following a recent court order, said a legislator and chairperson of an education committee.

But 18 schools are slated to open this year, according to the Office of Public Instruction.

Rep. Dave Bedey, R-Hamilton, said Thursday he believes the bill that opened the door for more charters is clear as written.

“At the end of the day, I’m just gratified that schools across the state are going to be able to put these innovative programs into place without delay,” Bedey said.

In the 2023 session, the legislature approved House Bill 549, which eased the way for more charter schools through the public school system. However, a lawsuit filed this spring alleged the Office of Public Instruction was throwing up roadblocks.

Last month, a Lewis and Clark District Court judge disagreed with the Office of Public Instruction’s interpretation that certain prerequisites needed to be met to get the charter schools off the ground, such as a parental petition and approval from county commissioners.

The legal dispute took place as students made plans to attend the new schools, but educators alleged the argument over how to open them meant likely delays.

Last week, the court signed off on an agreement between the plaintiffs, the Montana Quality Education Coalition, and defendants, Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and the Office of Public Instruction, that resolves some of the fight.

In the stipulation, the Montana Quality Education Coalition agreed Arntzen and the OPI had implemented processes that allow the schools to start operating by July 1, 2024, and that they were in compliance with the court’s order for a preliminary injunction last month.

The Montana Quality Education Coalition describes itself as made up of more than 100 school districts and five education organizations and one of the largest education advocacy organizations in Montana.

The agreement the judge approved acknowledges the preliminary injunction from April 17 remains in effect unless the court terminates it or the legislature amends relevant statutes. It also dismisses outstanding claims.

In an email this week, the Office of Public Instruction notes that as of May 13, it had opened 15 of 18 schools enrolling students this year.

“The OPI is working with one school to correct some of the information that was submitted and is waiting on applications from two schools,” the agency said in an email. “One of the approved public charter schools will not open until the fall of 2025.”

Rep. Bedey, chairperson of the interim budget committee on education, said Thursday he doesn’t believe amendments are needed, although small changes are possible.

Rather, he said a plain reading of HB 549 clearly indicates the approval process for schools, the authority of the Board of Public Education, and the duty of the Office of Public Instruction.

All the same, Bedey said the legislature has an opportunity to make “some minor changes” to make the intentions of the bill “crystal clear and remove any ambiguity” given some people had a “contrary reading” of it.

At a committee meeting in March, legislators voted 6-2 to send a letter to Arntzen telling her she was failing students and not meeting her Constitutional duties related to HB 549 and other educational programs legislators had supported.

The Montana Quality Education Coalition filed the lawsuit later the same month.

“It’s regrettable that this issue had to go to the courts for resolution because the meaning of the law was clear,” Bedey said. “It’s regrettable that we were unable to convince the superintendent of that when her lawyer appeared before us in a committee meeting in March.”