Federal Courthouse in Missoula. There are a lot of things that are easy to do in this world βbut challenging the federal government in court is not one of them. Given that the resources of the entire federal bureaucracy are at the disposal of the Forest Service to fight lawsuits, for plaintiffs to win is very difficult indeed. The only way to alter that deference is with solid evidence of violation of the law.
And when indisputable evidence is produced, as it was in the decisions disparaged in the column, judges absolutely have the right to enjoin agency actions and remand the project to correct its illegalities.
They also have the right to award attorney and expert witness fees to the plaintiffs. That really seems to rankle Mr. Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a c 3 public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info dailymontanan. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website.
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He writes from Helena and appears in the Daily Montanan weekly. George Ochenski. September 15, am. View Republishing Guidelines. Copy to clipboard. George Ochenski George Ochenski is Montana's longest-running columnist and a longtime environmental activist, concerned with keeping Montana's natural beauty clean and safe.
