THE CITY COURT OF THE TOWN OF BRIDGER

Court Calendar

About the Court

The Bridger City Court is a court of limited jurisdiction within Montana's 22nd Judicial District. It operates under the Montana Justice and City Court Rules of Civil Procedure and the Montana Uniform Rules for the Justice and City Courts. The conduct of the judge is governed by the 2008 Montana Code of Judicial Conduct, enforced by the Judicial Standards Commission of the Montana Supreme Court and, as of May 4, 2023, by the Montana Code of Ethics (MCA Title 2, Chpater 2, Part 1) enforced by the Commissioner of Political Practices.

Paying Online

The court uses PayPal and CitePayUSA for accepting money online.  You cannot post bond for a speeding ticket using CitePayUSA.  Use PayPal to post bond for speeding tickets.  Please see--and read--the Paying Court Fees page for instructions and the links.

Filing Court Documents Online

If you have an existing case or ticket, you can file PDF, JPG, GIF and PNG documents with the court.  If you are an attorney, you may use Montana Courts E-Filing to file on an existing case.

Using AI in Court Documents

AI generated material may be used in briefs and other submissions to the court--but may not be used in pleadings or motions--as long as its use is disclosed and it has been checked for accuracy.  Please see the Standing Order Pertaining To The Use Of Artificial Intelligence for details.

Court Sessions

The court offce is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Change of Plea hearings and Omnibus hearings are generally held at 1:00 p.m. on Mondays.  Open Court is held each Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.  Jury Confirmation Hearings and Motions hearings are generally held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.  All court sessions have an accompanying video chat session that typically starts running 30 minutes before court is scheduled to convene.  A list of court dates can be downloaded for 2026.

Civil Lawsuits

The Bridger City Court can generally hear civil cases where the amount in question is fifteen thousand dollars or less and that do not involve titles to real property.

Records Requests

Records may be requested from the court.  Please provide as munch information as possible about the subject of the request.  There is a fee of $25.00 per hour for researching records.  The first 30 minutes do not incur a charge.  We do not charge for electronic methods of delivery.  There is a fee for physical methods of delivery.

Driver License Suspensions

The Motor Vehicle Division of the Montana Department of Justice web site contains information about drivers license suspensions: https://dojmt.gov/driving/driver-license-sanctions.

Minors and Court

The Bridger City Court has jurisdiction over traffc, MIP and gambling violations committed by minors in town.  It is helpful for people to be aware of their rights and have some idea of the court process before they appear in court, and the court has prepared a  PDF file reviewing basic information about the process when it involves a minor.

Representing Yourself

Anybody has the the right to represent themself in court.  However, doing so carries dangers and disadvantages.  The laws and rules relating to procedure and evidence must be followed.  If they are not, that can adversely affect your case.  The case may be complex.  Representing yourself may involve a great deal of legal work such as research, filing motions, paying attention to court dates and deadlines, entering into negotiations with the opposing side, figuring out how to elicit the best evidence for your case., not letting your emotions cloud your judgment, conducting yourslef at hearings, questioning witnesses, etc.  These are all things a lawyer could capably do for you.  There is no substitute for a good lawyer.  Your decision to represent yourself should be a careful and weighty one.  It may have significant long-term effects upon your life.

If you understand what is at stake and voluntarily, unequivocally, and without reservation choose to represent yourself, here are some resources that you may consult:

• The Montana Bar Association (just in case you change your mind).
• The Montana Legal Serices Association for civil cases only.  They can assist you and also represent you.
• The Self Help Law Centers administered by the Montana Supreme Court can assist, but not represent, you in civll matters only.
• The Montana Supreme Court web site provides some forms for use in both criminal and civil matters.
• The rules of precedure used in the Bridger City Court:
  • The Montana Justice And City Court Rules Of Civil Procedure.
  • The Montana Uniform Rules For The Justice And City Courts.
• The court's downloads and resources  page.