{"data":{"id":"us-mt/3-5-122","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"3-5-122","heading":"Judge pro tempore or special master in criminal cases -- appointment.","body":"(1) One or more judges of a judicial district may designate a judge pro tempore or a special master in a criminal case to hear and determine any preliminary, nondispositive matter pending in a criminal case before the court if the district court judge or judges find that the appointment serves justice.\n(2) Any of the following individuals may act as a special master in a criminal case:\n(a) a justice of the peace or a city judge;\n(b) a retired district court judge;\n(c) a retired supreme court justice; or\n(d) a member of the state bar.","path":["TITLE 3. JUDICIARY, COURTS","CHAPTER 5. DISTRICT COURTS","Part 1. Definition of Districts and Assignment of Judges"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0030/chapter_0050/part_0010/section_0220/0030-0050-0010-0220.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:43:34Z","sha256":"bad4e193eddf54df9224c095ba53119f8e2142046ba1a42fbdfd400aeb84cdbf","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/3-5-119","next":"us-mt/3-5-123"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}