State Ex Rel. Browman v. Wood

The Missoula County commissioners and auditor appeal from a district court judgment granting a writ of mandate. The writ ordered them to allow and pay a justice court payroll claim for unbudgeted temporary clerical assistance. The district court concluded as a matter of law that Justice of the Peace Dennis Wood had incurred the claim as a necessary and reasonable expense of his office.

On October 8, 1974, Dennis Wood, Justice of the Peace, Hell-gate Township, Missoula County, Dept. No. 2 submitted a request to the Missoula County commissioners that he be allowed to hire Linda Baumgartner as a…