Programs & Services
- Administrative Rules
- Attorney General's Office
- Criminal Jury Instructions
- Opinions & Letters of Advice
- Right to Know & Right of Privacy Laws
- Contact Legal Services Division
- Forms & Other Documents
Other Resources
- Montana Code Annotated
- Montana County Attorneys Association
- MontanaLawHelp
- Montana Supreme Court Opinions
- State Bar of Montana
- State Law Library of Montana
- U.S. Courts for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Opinions and Law Resources
The attorneys who work for the Legal Services Division and the Attorney General's Office provide a wide range of services to state government and its agencies, and have considerable expertise in a number of issues important to the state, including tribal, state government and local government law; Montana and federal constitutional law; and criminal law and procedure.
Although the attorney general is the chief legal officer for the state, the attorney general's office:
- cannot represent citizens in private legal matters,
- does not have the authority to address complaints against private attorneys,
- does not have authority over Montana judges, and
- does not direct or supervise state agencies other than the Department of Justice. Questions or complaints about other state agencies should be directed to the specific agency's director or to the office of the governor.
Contact the Legal Services Division
With the exception of the Agency Legal Services Bureau and regional Child Protection Unit offices, all Legal Services offices are located at the following address:
Office of the Attorney General
Justice Building, Third Floor
215 North Sanders
P.O. Box 201401
Helena, MT 59620-1401
Phone: (406) 444-2026
E-mail: contactdoj@mt.gov
General Civil Law Services
The Attorney General's Office:
- represents the State of Montana's interests in complex civil litigation cases where the state is a party
- reviews and in some cases defends constitutional challenges filed against state laws
- researches and analyzes requests for attorney general's opinions
- provides legal assistance to state government and local governments on matters involving Indian jurisdiction and federal reserved water rights
- provides legal services for the eight other divisions of the Department of Justice
Chris D. Tweeten, Chief Civil Counsel
Phone: (406) 444-2026
Agency Legal Services Bureau
The Agency Legal Services Bureau provides legal counsel to state government officials and state agencies. Attorneys in the bureau represent other state agencies in civil actions ranging from liability lawsuits to personnel issues.
Jim Scheier, Bureau Chief Agency Legal Services Bureau
1712 Ninth Avenue
P.O. Box 201440
Helena, MT 59620-1440
Phone: (406) 444-2026
Appellate Services Bureau
The division's Appellate Services Bureau handles appeals of criminal matters, including death penalty cases, and represents the state in federal court when constitutional challenges are made to a criminal conviction.
Mark Mattioli, Bureau Chief
Phone: (406) 444-2026
Prosecution Services Bureau
This bureau assists local county attorneys by providing training and by assisting in the prosecution of complex criminal cases, particularly homicide cases. It also prosecutes cases where the county attorney has a conflict of interest; prosecutes drug cases and workers' compensation and Medicaid fraud cases; and investigates complaints against county attorneys. Such complaints must be filed in writing and sent to the bureau via regular mail.
John Connor, Chief Criminal Counsel
Barbara Harris, Bureau Chief
Phone: (406) 444-2026
Child Protection Unit
The Child Protection Unit handles child abuse and neglect cases around Montana. The unit has offices in Missoula, Billings and Miles City and focuses on resolving the legal status of children who have been in foster care for more than 15 out of the most recent 22 months.
Kathleen Jenks, Supervising Attorney
Child Protection Unit
2677 Palmer Street, Suite 300
Missoula, MT 59808
Phone: (406) 329-1577