Montana § 2-2-103 - Public Trust -- Public Duty

§ 2-2-103. Public Trust -- Public Duty

Public trust -- public duty. (1) The holding of public office or employment is a public trust, created by the confidence that the electorate reposes in the integrity of judicial officers, public officers, legislators, and public employees. A judicial officer, public officer, judge, legislator, or public employee shall carry out the individual's duties for the benefit of the people of the state. (2) A judicial officer, public officer, judge, legislator, or public employee whose conduct departs from the person's public duty is liable to the people of the state and is subject to the penalties provided in this part for abuse of the public's trust. (3) This part sets forth various rules of conduct, the transgression of any of which is a violation of public duty, and various ethical principles, the transgression of any of which must be avoided. (4) (a) The enforcement of this part for: (i) judicial officers, state officers, judges, legislators, and state employees is provided for in 2-2-136 ; (ii) legislators, involving legislative acts, is provided for in 2-2-135 and for all other acts is provided for in 2-2-136 ; (iii) local government officers and employees is provided for in 2-2-144 . (b) Any money collected in the civil actions that is not reimbursement for the cost of the action must be deposited in the general fund of the unit of government.