Montana Supreme Court Rejects AG’s Bid for Control Over County Attorney in ICE Information Dispute
The Montana Supreme Court has rejected the state Attorney General's attempt to assert supervisory control over the Gallatin County Attorney in a dispute concerning the release of confidential criminal justice information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Missoula, MT, November 6, 2026 — The Montana Supreme Court has ruled against an effort by the state’s Attorney General to oversee the Gallatin County Attorney’s actions. The case centered on the release of confidential criminal justice information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a significant decision, the state’s highest court denied the Attorney General’s request for supervisory control. This type of legal action is typically sought to correct an error or prevent a miscarriage of justice when other remedies are inadequate.
The dispute involved the Gallatin County Attorney’s office and the process by which confidential criminal justice information was shared, or was to be shared, with ICE. The specifics of the information in question and the exact nature of the dispute leading to the Attorney General’s intervention were not detailed in the information provided.
The Montana Supreme Court’s decision means that the state Attorney General will not be able to directly supervise or direct the Gallatin County Attorney regarding this matter. The Gallatin County Attorney’s office will continue to operate under its existing authority and responsibilities, as determined by state law and county policy, concerning the handling and disclosure of criminal justice information.
The outcome of this ruling affirms the established jurisdictional boundaries between state-level executive offices and county-level elected officials in Montana, particularly concerning prosecutorial discretion and information sharing protocols. The court’s decision did not provide further details on the rationale beyond rejecting the attempt at supervisory control.
Story summarized from the original created by MTN News on www.kpax.com, see more information here.
