Montana

Viewpoint: Montana doesn’t need partisan manipulation of court

Published

8 months ago

April 30, 2025

Viewpoint: Montana doesn’t need partisan manipulation of court

David Paoli

Attorney General Austin Knudsen was called to account for multiple, egregious violations of the rules that govern all Montana lawyers. Unimaginable as it seems, Montana’s Attorney General brazenly disobeyed a direct, final order of the Montana Supreme Court. And he did so knowingly. Knudsen continued to defy that order for nearly one full year, while publicly calling judges liars who engage in misconduct.

In essence, Knudsen’s position is that he alone, among all Montana lawyers, is special; that his pledge to adhere to the Rules of Professional Conduct was somehow less binding than all the other lawyers in the State who swore the same pledge. He has denied none of what he is accused of and if any other lawyer had engaged in similar despicable conduct they would have been summarily disbarred.

Recently, Montana Republican Party Chairman Don K. KaltSchmidt, seeking to politicize the matter, publicly decried the procedures and thoughtful decision of Montana’s Commission on Practice (the body responsible for disciplining lawyers) as a “show trial”, “weaponization”, and “partisan manipulation” of the system. He also attacked the person who filed the complaint against Knudsen, Clara Ellen Roberts, ignoring the inconvenient truth that Ms. Roberts grew up in Billings, attended college in Missoula and is a licensed Montana lawyer.

Truth is, the only partisan manipulation to be seen is that which the hopelessly biased Republican party chair, Don K., relentlessly forces upon Montana citizens and Montana’s judiciary. He just can’t seem to grasp the fact that politics has no place in either the courtroom, or in attorney disciplinary proceedings, both of which are – and must always remain – arenas in which facts and applicable laws are the only thing that matters.

One thing distinguishes the United States of America from any two-bit authoritarian regime or banana republic. It is respect for the rule of law. Without that, we are left with the law of the jungle, where none of us can stand on equal footing with the rich and powerful. And there is no place in America where anyone, and especially an attorney, is entitled to a “Get Out of Jail Free” card after disobeying a direct, final court order. Knudsen does not get to disobey these rules by claiming “separation of powers.” No, Don K, Knudsen’s brand of intentional misconduct is not a part of his “constitutional duties”, far from it.

Don K’s shameful, revisionist view pins a “badge of honor” on an attorney who has trashed his most basic professional obligations, defied the rule of law and run roughshod over the rules of common civility – you know, that stuff we were all supposed to learn in kindergarten.

No Don K., Austin Knudsen has not been singled out for unfair treatment. His case is being handled just the same as that of any attorney who breaks the rules. This is not a show trial or a weaponization of the system. What you’re seeing is due process and accountability for a wrongdoer.

Montanans do not want, let alone need, politics in the courtroom. Montanans want and need the courtroom to be a sanctuary in which facts, law, and justice are all that matters.

Don K, if you truly want to enhance the “integrity of the legal system and the fundamental principles of democracy,” encourage Knudsen to stop breaking the rules. And, you can help by ending the constant spread of conspiracy theories.

It’s not Ok, Don K, to defend rule breakers by labeling or impugning others who have the audacity to enforce the rules. Integrity demands we support and encourage our fellow citizens who bring rule breakers to answer for their conduct.

David Paoli is an attorney in Missoula.

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Montana

Miley Cyrus teases Hannah Montana 20th anniversary: ‘You see the bangs’

Published

9 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Miley Cyrus teases Hannah Montana 20th anniversary: ‘You see the bangs’

Move over Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana is coming.

The “Flowers” singer is revisiting her Disney Channel roots, donning the signature blonde look of the fictional popstar ahead of the sitcom’s 20th anniversary in March.

At the Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan. 3, Cyrus confirmed she is involved with plans for the milestone date.

“Absolutely. We’re working hard on them,” she told Variety.

While she said she couldn’t say more about what’s in store for fans, Cyrus pointed to her blonde hairstyle, adding, “You see the bangs.”

Cyrus starred in the series alongside Emily Osment, Mitchel Musso and father Billy Ray Cyrus, between March 2006 and January 2011, and starred in the 2009 feature film “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” Under the Hannah Montana persona, she also released multiple platinum-selling soundtracks and headlined the Best of Both Worlds Tour, which grossed over $54 million.

What’s happening for the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary?

The Grammy-winning musician first teased plans for the anniversary in a July 22 interview on SiriusXM.

“I want to design something really, really special for it because it really was the beginning of all of this,” she said. “Without Hannah, there wouldn’t really be this me.”

“It’s crazy to think that I started as a character that I thought was going to be impossible to shed, and now that’s something that when I walk into a space, it’s looked at as this sense of kind of, like, nostalgia or something that you have from your childhood,” she added. “So, that’s exciting to get to celebrate that.”

Will there be a Hannah Montana tour in 2026?

Cyrus has not announced plans to tour as “Hannah Montana” for the show’s 20th anniversary.

While exact anniversary plans remain under wraps, a tour seems unlikely, as Cyrus has previously expressed a lack of interest in touring.

During a May 2023 interview with British Vogue, the “Something Beautiful” singer added that while she enjoys performing for her friends, noting that “singing for hundreds of thousands of people isn’t really the thing that I love.”

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY

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Montana

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

Published

21 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

1 day 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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Viewpoint: Montana doesn’t need partisan manipulation of court

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Viewpoint: Montana doesn’t need partisan manipulation of court

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Montana

Miley Cyrus teases Hannah Montana 20th anniversary: ‘You see the bangs’

What’s happening for the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary?

Will there be a Hannah Montana tour in 2026?

Montana

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

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Viewpoint: Montana doesn’t need partisan manipulation of court

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