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Constance Van Kley
Constance Van Kley is an Assistant Professor at the Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana, where she teaches federal and state constitutional law.
A Constitution Unique to Montana and Uniquely Montanan
The state’s 1972 charter is populist, pro-conservation, and libertarian.
Askew v. City of Kinston
Held that plaintiffs bringing direct actions under the state constitution are not required to exhaust administrative remedies before filing suit.
State v. White
Ruled that the state constitution's confrontation clause requires two-way visibility between the accused and witnesses during testimony.
Borgelt v. Austin Firefighters Association
Held that provision of collective bargaining agreement authorizing union members to conduct certain union-related activities does not violate the state constitution's Gift Clause
State v. Bauler
Plurality holds that the state constitution's search and seizure provision was not violated when a K-9 handler and his trained canine momentarily made contact with the exterior of a vehicle during a dog sniff
In re Harris
Held that a judge may consider proffered inadmissible evidence to support denial of bail without violating due process principles so long as the evidence is reliable
Kaul v. Urmanski
Agreed to hear challenges to a 175-year-old law that conservatives claim bans abortion. A lower court said that law did not outlaw abortions. The high court will consider if it does and, if so, if it is still enforceable on an appeal brought by a Republican Wisconsin county attorney.
Surface Water Use Permit Applications
Vacated the Water Commission’s decision regarding interim instream flow standards for failure to comply with the state constitution's public trust doctrine and remanded for further proceedings.
Hodes & Nauser v. Kobach; Hodes & Nauser v. Stanek
Affirmed district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of health care providers and said that a near-total ban on a common method of second trimester abortion, called a dilation and evacuation, violated the section 1 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights, which protects a right to personal autonomy. In a second opinion, applying strict scrutiny, found unconstitutional additional licensing requirements for physicians who provide abortions than required for other providers.