The Montana Supreme Court will hold oral arguments at Montana State University on April 23 in observance of National Law Day, with hundreds of middle and high school students from across the state expected to attend. The event is free and open to the public and will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Strand Union Building ballrooms.
Law Day provides an opportunity for students and community members to observe how the state’s highest court operates, which organizers say offers valuable insight into civic institutions. Christopher Pruden, engagement programs lead for MSU student success, said, “Law Day provides an opportunity for people to peek under the hood of our civic institutions and see how they operate. It’s of great value to students and our entire community to bring the Montana Supreme Court to campus each year.”
This year’s case centers on Jay Hubber, a bail bondsman from Butte, who along with his partner Nicohlas Jaeger entered a home in 2021 seeking to arrest a man. During this incident, Jaeger shot and killed the man using Hubber’s firearm. In March 2024, both men were found guilty by a jury—Hubber for homicide by accountability and aggravated burglary; Jaeger for deliberate homicide—and sentenced each to sixty years in prison plus twenty years suspended. Hubber appealed his conviction in June 2024; his case has since reached the state Supreme Court.
The appeal raises questions about whether someone who participates in events leading up to a crime can be held as responsible as the person who committed it directly. Previous Law Day cases at MSU have included topics such as jury bias due to media coverage (State of Montana v. Kingman) and environmental review procedures (Montana Environmental Information Center v. Westmoreland Rosebud Mining). The University of Montana also holds its own version of Law Day.
MSU’s Law Day is organized through collaboration between its Department of Political Science, Pre-Law Club, State Bar of Montana, and the Eighteenth Judicial District Court.
Montana State University leads research funding efforts within the state with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website. The university contributes through volunteerism, outreach programs, research focused on improving lives and environmental stewardship according to its official website. MSU ranks among the top five percent of global universities per rankings by the Center for World University Rankings according to its official website.
Approximately 17,165 students are enrolled at MSU with an even split between residents and nonresidents according to its official website. As Montana’s land-grant institution based in Bozeman—with access not only to academic opportunities but also outdoor recreation—the university focuses on research excellence while serving communities across Montana according to its official website.