The Silencing of Montana's Rep. Zooey Zephyr and the Failure of Political Decorum.

Montana District Court judge rejected Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr’s attempt to return to the House floor following Republican lawmakers’ moves that blocked her from entering or speaking in the House chamber at the end of April 2023. Zephyr sued Republican leaders of the Montana House of Representatives for barring her from proceedings on the floor. The Montana judge ruled that reinstating Zephyr was not within the court’s power and would “interfere with legislative authority.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana represented Zephyr and four of her constituents in the lawsuit.