In its E-Brief, the Republican Party takes a shot at Terry Trieweiler:

"Terry Trieweiler Shows True Colors

"Though former Montana Supreme Court Justice Terry Trieweiler has retired from the bench, his role as a leader in the enviro-activist crusade will not diminish. Trieweiler is currently applying for a position on the Board of Directors for Montana’s leading enviro-litigation (read “obstructionist”) groups, the Montana Environmental Information Center.

"In his application for the MEIC Board, Trieweiler said, “I’ve also notices that facts and reason have less impact in the legislative branch of government than campaign contributions from those interest groups who benefit, in the short term, from bad public policy. In that political climate, litigation is increasingly important to enforce the fundamental values reflected in our state constitution…I believe that as people who care about future generations turn increasingly to courts to balance a political process, currently weighted heavily in favor of short term economic interests, my experience in those courts can be of assistance to MEIC and the other members of the Board.”

"To have a Montana Supreme Court justice so unabashedly endorse litigation over legislation is appalling. Montana is fortunate to have a citizen-run government; a system in which all citizens have the ability to run for office, and in which all citizens have access to even the highest-level government officials. Trieweiler evidently believes that enviro-activist groups need to circumvent that system in order to achieve their obstructionist aims.

"The appropriate role for the judiciary is to interpret the law as defined by the legislative branch and applied by the executive. Trieweiler’s environmental philosophy has blinded him to the proper role that he was supposed to serve and presents a dangerous precedent.

"Trieweiler’s term as justice is up; he will not be missed."