Final report : findings and recommendations

228 Pages·2000·3.1 MB·English

by  Montana. Supreme Court. Gender Fairness Task Force

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2000
MONTANA SUPREME COURT
GENDER
FAIRNESS
TASK
'STATt DOCUMENTS COLLECTION
FORCE J AM 1 zUOI
MONTANA STATE LIBRARY
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REPORT
FINAL
Findings and Recommendations
MONTANASTATELIBRARY
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3 0864 0014 7486 8
Final Report
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
"The Gender Fairness Task Force extends its grateful appreciation tothe
State Bar of Montana for its unceasing support of the goals of Task
Force. When progress toward accomplishing Task Force goals was
painfullyslow, theTask Forcecould always relyonthe State Bar's patience
andencouragement. ParticularlyhelpfulwereGeorgeBousliman, Executive
Director, and State BarBoard ofTrustee Ed Bartlett,the liaisontotheTask
Force and now President-Electofthe State Bar.
TheTask Forcealsogratefullyacknowledgesthe manycitizensofMontana
who participated in the regional public hearings. It is, after all, citizens
participating inthecourtsystemwhofeeltheimpactofgenderinequity. We
are indebted tothem fortheircollaboration in this effort.
Most particularly, as Chair, I am deeply indebted to Sarah Arnott Ozment,
Janice Doggett, Justice Karia Grayand Judge MargeJohnson-the Chairs
andwritersoftheSubcommitteeReports. Withouttheirunwaveringsupport,
hard work and persistence, this reportwould never have been completed.
Klaus D. Sitte, Chair
MontanaSupremeCourtGenderFairnessTaskForce

Final Report
^his report has been awaited a long time - bythe members oftheTask
Force, the bar, the public and, ofcourse, the Montana Supreme Court.
The Task Force had considerable difficulty maintaining cohesion and
momentum In the lengthy process of study, gathering and assembling
information, holding hearingsand listening sessionsand, ultimately, writing
Itsfindings. Ontheotherhand, theslownessoftheTaskForceisdecidedly
not attributable to a lack of commitment to the issue or any disagreement
about the conclusions and recommendations. Subcommittee chairs, past
andpresentchairsoftenfeltlikepushingfrombehindratherthanpullingfrom
thefront. Regardless ofthe delays often caused bythe committee method
of deliberation, the report Is no less timely today than when the process
began. Indeed, some Task Force members would urge that the Findings
andRecommendationsaremorecogentnowthanever. Forthosewhohave
awaitedthisReportandexercisedextraordinarypatience, pleaseacceptthe
We
gratitudeoftheTaskForceforyourperseverenceandencouragement.
trustthe Reportwasworth thewait.
Klaus D. Sitte, Chair
MontanaSupremeCourtGender FairnessTaskForce

1
Final Report
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
i
Preface
jj
Reaching Toward Gender Equality Page 1
Introduction Page
1
The Mandate Page 2
The Survey Page 4
Public Hearings Page
1
Next Steps Page 12
Family Law Subcommittee Report Page 15
Parenting Page 15
Recognition ofthe Primary Parent Page 15
FailuretoAddress PhysicalAbuse in Parenting Decisions Page 16
Gender Bias Based Upon Traditional IdeasAbout Parents' Roles .... Page 17
Support Page 17
The Failure ofthe Courtsto Order Necessary Support Page 17
Child Supportfrom the Date ofFiling Page 18
Child Support Beyond Age 18 Page 19
Use ofContempt Proceedingsto Collect Support Page 19
Judicial Attitude Toward Supportand Support Enforcement Page 19
Visitation Page 20
Criminal Actions to Enforce Support Page 21
The Role ofthe Guardian ad Litem & Psychologist in Gender Bias .... Page 21
Property Page 21
SettlementAgreements and Gender Bias Page22
Farm and Ranch Property Page 22
Mediation Page 23
Maintenance Page23
Inabilityto Obtain Counsel Page 24
Equal Treatment Page 24
A Family Court System Page 24
Conclusion Page 25
Recommendations Page 25
Courthouse Interactions Subcommittee Report Page 27
Disparity Between NumberofMale and Female Judges Page 30
MontanaSupremeCourtGenderFairnessTaskForce

Final Report
The Judicial Nomination Process Page 30
Attorney BehaviorToward Female Judges Page 31
Biased BehaviorToward Female Witnesses and Lawyers Page 32
Forms ofAddress Page 35
Failure ofJudges to Intervene Page 36
Male Vs. Female Perceptions ofBias in Courthouse Interactions Page 37
Recommendations Page 39
The Legal System Subcommittee Report Page44
Introduction Page44
Women & Barriers in Advancement Page 44
Membership on Professional Commissions/Committees Page45
Disparity In Promotion Page45
Government Employment Page47
DisparateTreatment in Interviews Page48
Family Responsibilities Constitute a
Barrierto AdvancementforWomen Page48
Gender Limits WorkAssignments and Opportunities Page 53
Sexually Demeaning or Harassing Behavior Page 54
Civil DamageAwards Page 56
DomesticViolence Between Adults Page 56
Criminal Sexual Conduct Page 60
Recommendations Page 61
Epilogue Page 63
Montana Supreme Court OrderCreating Task Force AppendixA
Task Force Membership List Appendix B
A SurveyofMontana Attorneys: BBER survey results Appendix C
MontanaSupremeCourtGender FairnessTask Force