Montana Title 3. Judiciary, Courts § 3-1-1703. Judicial performance survey

(i) attorneys who have appeared before the judge as counsel either pro hac vice or while licensed to practice law in Montana;

(ii) jurors who have served in one or more cases before the judge;  and

(iii) court staff who have worked with the judge.

(i) understanding of the substantive law and rules of procedure and evidence;

(ii) attentiveness to factual and legal issues;

(iii) adherence to precedent and ability to justify clearly any departures from precedent;

(iv) appreciation of the practical impact on the parties of the judge's rulings, including rulings that cause delay or increased litigation expense;

(v) clarity in writing;  and

(vi) clarity in explaining the bases for judicial opinions;

(i) courtesy toward attorneys, court staff, witnesses, and others interacting with the judge's court;

(ii) appropriate courtroom decorum;

(iii) demeanor and personal attributes that promote public trust and confidence in the judicial system;

(iv) preparedness;

(v) avoidance of impropriety or the appearance of impropriety;

(vi) avoidance of bias and conflicts of interest;

(vii) fairness, open-mindedness, and impartiality;

(viii) ability to communicate clearly, including the ability to explain the basis for written rulings, court procedures, and decisions;  and

(ix) compliance with 2-2-121 and 2-2-122 and the applicable rules of judicial conduct;

(i) workload management;

(ii) sharing proportionally the workload within the court or district;  and

(iii) issuance of opinions and orders without unnecessary delay;  and

(i) the Montana constitution, including Article III, section 1;  and

(ii) 1-2-101 and 1-2-102.