24.5.335 BENCH RULINGS

24.5.335 BENCH RULINGS (1) In order to more promptly deliver decisions in cases pending before the court, particularly those cases that do not involve complex factual questions or unique questions of law, the court may, in its sole discretion, issue a bench ruling following the close of the testimony in a case. If a bench ruling is issued, the following procedure will be followed.

(a) The judge will announce his decision to the parties in open court, outlining the factual and legal reasoning therefor.

(b) The judge may direct one of the parties, usually the prevailing party, to reduce his decision to writing by preparing written findings of fact, conclusions of law, and judgment.

(c) Following entry of the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law and judgment, the parties shall have twenty (20) days in which to file objections to the court's decision and to request a rehearing, pursuant to ARM 24.5.344.

(History: Sec. 2-4-201, MCA; IMP, Sec. 2-4-201, 39-71-2901, MCA; NEW, 1983 MAR p. 1715, Eff. 11/26/83; TRANS, from Admin., 1989 MAR p. 2177, Eff. 12/22/89.)