Montana Code 46-11-201. Leave to file information
46-11-201. Leave to file information. (1) The prosecutor may apply directly to the district court for permission to file an information against a named defendant. If the defendant named is a district court judge, the prosecutor shall apply directly to the supreme court for leave to file the information.
Terms Used In Montana Code 46-11-201
- Court: means a place where justice is judicially administered and includes the judge of the court. See Montana Code 46-1-202
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Judge: means a person who is vested by law with the power to perform judicial functions. See Montana Code 46-1-202
- Judgment: means an adjudication by a court that the defendant is guilty or not guilty, and if the adjudication is that the defendant is guilty, it includes the sentence pronounced by the court. See Montana Code 46-1-202
- Offense: means a violation of any penal statute of this state or any ordinance of its political subdivisions. See Montana Code 46-1-202
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
- Prosecutor: means an elected or appointed attorney who is vested by law with the power to initiate and carry out criminal proceedings on behalf of the state or a political subdivision. See Montana Code 46-1-202
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2)An application must be by affidavit supported by evidence that the judge or chief justice may require. If it appears that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed by the defendant, the judge or chief justice shall grant leave to file the information, otherwise the application is denied.
(3)When leave to file an information has been granted, a warrant or summons may issue for the defendant’s arrest or appearance.
(4)When leave is granted to file an information against a district court judge, the chief justice shall designate and direct a judge of the district court of another district to preside at the trial of the information and hear and determine all pleas and motions affecting the defendant under the information before and after judgment. All necessary records must be transferred to the clerk of the district court of the district in which the action arose.