Vanskyock v. Twentieth Judicial District Court

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Lance Christopher Pavlik was convicted for criminal offenses and sentenced to a Department of Corrections (DOC) commitment. Sandy VanSkyock, a DOC probation officer, requested that DOC override its usual preliminary screening process and, instead, place Pavlik directly at the Montana State Prison. The override request was approved. Pavlik later moved the district court to hold VanSkyock in contempt and sanction her in her individual capacity on the ground that she requested the DOC preliminary placement screening override based on falsified information. VanSkyock moved to dismiss the proceedings based on lack of jurisdiction, the statute of limitations, and because she cannot be held in contempt for DOC’s valid placement decision. The district court denied the motion to dismiss. Upon VanSkyock’s request that the Supreme Court intervene via supervisory control the Supreme Court reversed, holding that Pavlik’s motion failed to state a cognizable claim for criminal contempt as a matter of law. Remanded for denial of Pavlik’s contempt motion. View "Vanskyock v. Twentieth Judicial District Court" on Justia Law