Montana

Montana State Supreme Court Upholds Historic Climate Decision

Published

1 year ago

December 23, 2024

Montana State Supreme Court Upholds Historic Climate Decision

Montana’s Republican lawmakers may not be swayed by the gravity of climate crisis, but six state Supreme Court justices did not need convincing. Last Wednesday, 16 young plaintiffs won a resounding victory as those jurists upheld a historic 2023 climate decision, with only one dissenting vote among the seven justices. With climate deniers poised to roll back energy and environmental policies in Washington next year, and the U.N. climate conference (COP29) failing to resolve major international challenges, the decision was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal year of climate policy developments.

The case tackled the state’s appeal of Held v. Montana (2023), which found a provision of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) unconstitutional. This “MEPA limitation” prohibited environmental studies demonstrating how the state’s greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global climate change. The state Supreme Court agreed with a lower-court ruling that the provision is unconstitutional because it violated the right to “a clean and healthful environment.”

More from Gabrielle Gurley

In the 2023 decision, Judge Kathy Seeley took great care to provide a detailed exploration of the climate issues and give credence to the young people’s fears for their future. While state Supreme Court justices touched on some climate issues, such as increasing global temperatures, they turned their attention to the specific question of climate change as “a serious threat to the constitutional guarantee of a clean and healthful environment in Montana.”

Significantly, the justices pointed to the state constitution’s stipulation that “the state and each person shall maintain and improve” Montana’s environment “for present and future generations.” The legislature, for its part, had the responsibility to protect what they termed the “environmental life support system” from “unreasonable depletion and degradation of natural resources.”

They decided that the framers of the state constitution wanted to carve out “the strongest environmental protection provision found in any state constitution” and agreed with the young plaintiffs that there is ample evidence that the climate crisis has exacerbated wildfires and affected air and water quality in the state. The jurists also noted that the framers “would [not] grant the State a free pass to pollute the Montana environment just because the rest of the world insisted on doing so.”

The single dissent from Justice Jim Rice rested largely on the standing of the young people to bring the initial lawsuit. He argued that there was “no project, no application, no decision, no permit, no enforcement of a statute” that materially affected the group. Their stories were “not legally unique” and no different from other state residents.

Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) argued that the case will prompt “perpetual lawsuits” and increase energy bills for residents. He also echoed the dissenting justice’s contention that the decision was another example of judicial activism with the court “step[ping] outside of its lane” to tread on legislative prerogatives. Not surprisingly, using Held v. Montana as an entrée, Montana Republican legislative leaders—the GOP controls both chambers—have pledged to take up new curbs on the state courts when the legislature reconvenes in January.

But for now, the ruling produces a powerful precedent that citizens, no matter their age, play an important role in shielding the planet from environmental harm, and cannot be easily dismissed.

Gabrielle Gurley

Prospect senior editor and award-winning journalist Gabrielle Gurley writes and edits work on states and cities, transportation and infrastructure, civil rights, and climate. Follow @gurleygg

Montana

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

Published

3 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

BOZEMAN — For the second consecutive week, Montana State sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick has been named Big Sky Conference player of the week, the league office announced Tuesday.

The 5-foot-11 product of Roberts scored the game-winning basket with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift the Bobcats to a 71-70 upset of Big 12 member Colorado on Sunday afternoon at the CU Events Center. Chirrick finished the contest with 21 points, which included a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line.

Chirrick once again stuffed the stat sheet, pulling down a team-best six rebounds, while adding four steals, three assists and a pair of 3-pointers in the victory.

Chirrick is currently ranked third in the nation averaging 4.5 steals per game, and her 27 total steals rank 14th overall. Her 19.8 points per game rank second in the Big Sky and 28th in the nation.

Montana State opens the Big Sky Conference/Summit League Challenge on Wednesday at North Dakota State in Fargo. Tip is slated for 6 p.m. (MT) in the Scheels Center. The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network.

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Montana

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Published

16 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Justin Hosa / MTN Sports

Montana State topped Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim their first National Championship since 1984.TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Kyle Hansen / MTN Sports

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Montana

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Montana State squares off with Illinois State Monday night in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The Bobcats are making their third trip to the title game in the past five seasons under coach Brent Vigen. The program is seeking its first championship since 1984.

MTN Sports has been on the ground in Nashville for the past five days covering the lead-up to the game, including the pregame show “Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest” hosted by Scott Breen and Kyle Hansen.

In it the MTN staff provides game previews, features, facts and figures and sights and sounds from the past several days in Music City in the run-up to the game. To watch, see the video reel below.

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest

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