Montana Supreme Court Approves State Community Justice Worker Program
April 16, 2026
By Andrew Braun Montana is expanding access to justice with the nation’s latest community justice worker program. On March 27, the Montana Supreme Court authorized a program for Community Justice Workers — certified lay volunteers who aren’t attorneys — to provide limited legal services to address certain critical civil legal needs in the state. Specifically, the Court’s order tasks the Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) with training and mentoring community volunteers to assist eligible Montanans with critical orders of protection, and simple consumer and housing matters in certain local trial courts. The decision expands who can help deliver crucial legal