Doty v. Montana Commissioner of Political Practices

¶1 Appellant Russell L. Doty (Doty) filed two complaints before the Commissioner of Political Practices (Commissioner) alleging that Bradley Molnar (Molnar) and John E. Olsen (Olsen) violated campaign finance and practices laws by making false statements about Doty during Molnar’s campaign against him. The Commissioner, Gordon Higgins, found there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Molnar or Olsen violated such laws, and Doty subsequently filed a petition for judicial review, a complaint for declaratory judgment, and an application for mandamus challenging that decision in the First…