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b 349.786 S5fr 2000 MONTANA SUPREME COURT GENDER FAIRNESS TASK 'STATt DOCUMENTS COLLECTION FORCE J AM 1 zUOI MONTANA STATE LIBRARY HELEN1A51,5MEO.N6TtAhNAAVE5.9620 REPORT FINAL Findings and Recommendations MONTANASTATELIBRARY "ifiraTfii't! 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