Citizens Petition Montana Supreme Court to Overrule Judge Best’s Hasty Denial

Michael Hanson The Cascade County Libertarian Party (CCLP) and Montana Citizens Council on Judicial Accountability (MTSCOJA) continue their pursuit of justice in the case of Michael Hanson’s death with a significant new development: a request for a Writ of Mandamus has been submitted to the MT Supreme Court in an effort to compel District Judge Elizabeth Best to impanel a grand jury, with a notice of filing on June 17, 2025. This filing comes in response to Judge Best’s swift denial of a citizen petition for grand jury submitted on January 13, 2025, at approximately 11:00 a.m. The petition included a meticulously prepared binder of exhibits, affidavits, legal precedents, and a flash drive containing the audio recording of the shooting that led to Mr. Hanson’s death. Despite the depth and breadth of this submission, the denial was stamped at approximately 1:30 p.m. that same day—raising serious doubts as to whether the petition received the thorough and informed judicial review it deserved. The original grand jury petition along with the Writ of Mandamus is publicly available on the website (https://TheCascadeEffect.net) for transparency and community scrutiny, under the Public Documentation section. Faced with Judge Best’s expedited rejection, the petitioners have escalated their case to the state’s highest court. The request for a Writ of Mandamus, mailed on June 16, 2025, asks the Montana Supreme Court to recognize the legal and moral necessity of a grand jury in this matter and to enforce judicial responsibility under both Montana and Federal constitutional principles. This includes the Montana Supreme Court’s own precedent in Woodahl v. First Judicial District Court (1975), which held: “We believe the most compelling reason for calling a Grand Jury would be the failure of those charged with prosecution to carry out that responsibility.” Further reinforcing this call is the recent unanimous decision by the United States Supreme Court in Barnes v. Felix (2025), where the Court clarified that courts must review the totality of the circumstances—not merely the final seconds before an officer’s use of force. Writing for the 9-0 majority, Justice Kagan stated: “A court deciding a use-of-force case cannot review the totality of the circumstances if it has put on chronological blinders.” This ruling directly applies to the Michael Hanson case. Judge Elizabeth Best’s expedited denial of the grand jury petition—issued barely two hours after its filing—raises concern that she too put on “chronological blinders” by failing to fully examine the sequence of decisions, deceptions, and statutory violations that preceded the shooting. As in Barnes, a credible review demands attention to everything that led up to the use of deadly force—not just the final 89 seconds. This effort is not a publicity stunt, but a sincere and strategic step in a long and necessary process. We are prepared to continue advancing this cause through every legal and civic avenue available to us, regardless of the obstacles placed in our path. We will not be deterred. The people of Cascade County—and the family of Michael Hanson—deserve answers. They deserve a process that doesn’t brush away serious questions with a rubber stamp. They deserve a grand jury. By Anthony Rosales, PhD: June 18, 2025 - Great Falls, Mt