Justice Court has Open Court for appearances Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 A.M. Check in time is at 8:30 A.M.   The issuing agency  will write an appearance date on your ticket; appearance is typically within 10 days from when you were issued the ticket.  Some offenses are mandatory appearances before the Judge.  Our court required mandatory appearance for Juveniles and crashes are mandatory appearances.  Call the court if you have questions at 406-222-4170. 

      ** You Must check in with the clerk at 8:30 **

The court begins to process in-custody arraignments via video with the Park County Detention Facility after those appearances are complete, the court sees criminal cases in the order how signed in.  Defendants appearing with their attorney will be moved to front of line after in custody appearances.

The Judge will ask you for a Guilty or Not Guilty plea. If you decide to plead Guilty, the Judge will sentence you then. You may explain to the judge the circumstances of why you are guilty, but you cannot plead guilty and explain to the judge why you are not guilty.

If the charge you are faced with meets certain criteria, you may be appointed a Public Defender by the court. When you appear in front of the Judge and enter a not guilty plea, the judge will ask if you are going to hire your own attorney, represent yourself or if you would like a Public Defender appointed.   

•  If you ask for a Public Defender, you will need to fill out the application provided to you by the clerk and turn it into the Bozeman Public Defenders office or you may apply on line.  See the application for the Public Defenders contact information.  

     *Note:  If the court has not sent a referral your application will not be able to be processed. 

• It is also your right to a trial. Upon entry of a Not Guilty plea, the Judge will advise you of your next hearing date which is an Omnibus hearing (status hearing).  This hearing is set 6 weeks out to allow time for the County Attorney to get your case and provide you (or your attorney/Public Defender) with discovery.  

You may be required to pay for your representation by the Public Defender’s office.

Self Representation

**Under Montana Law, you have the right to represent yourself, but along with that privilege, comes the obligation to know how to proceed.  It is against the law for anyone who is not an attorney to give legal advice.  Legal advice could be described as, but is not limited to how to proceed; what to file; offering interpretation of the rules; recommending a course of action; predicting a judicial officers' decision; and interpreting the meaning of effect of any Court Order or Judgment.  

COURT EMPLOYEES ARE FORBIDDEN BY LAW FROM GIVING LEGAL ADVICE**

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