GCBA News: Law Day Luncheon, April First Thursday, Wine Raffle Update
Announcing 2026 Law Day Judges, Attorneys, & Students Luncheon, April 23
12:00–1:30 p.m. | Inspiration Hall, Bozeman | $25.00
Join us for a unique opportunity to enjoy lunch with your fellow attorneys, pre-law students, and judges and justices from the Eighteenth Judicial District Court and Montana Supreme Court at our annual 2026 Law Day Luncheon, cohosted by GCBA and the Eighteenth Judicial District Court with support from the Associated Students of Montana State University. Attend the oral argument located in the Strand Union Building at 10:00 a.m. and join us for lunch across the street directly after or simply join the lunch at 12:00 p.m. Attendance at the oral argument will provide you 1.5 general CLE credit upon check in, no registration required. Registration is required for the luncheon. Click to register. Check out all other great events on our Events page of the website and for more information about the oral argument.
Announcing our next membership event: April First Thursday, April 2
Our next First Thursday members’ social networking event will be April 2, 2026 at Hachi Sushi Pub, 730 Boardwalk Ave., in the Market building, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. This event space offers unique retro video games in its casual loft. Join us for a beverage, game, and connection in a casual environment. As always, the first $100.00 is hosted by GCBA for this members networking event. To ensure appropriate space and coordinate with our gracious host RSVP is required. Click to RSVP. Check out all other great events on our Events page of the website.
GCBA Hosted CLEs
March 19 – GCBA CLE: Crossing Practice Lines Without Crossing Ethical Lines
12:00–1:30 p.m. | Public Safety Center, Bozeman | $40.00 | 1.5 CLE ethics credit (approved)
Join us for a CLE presented by Henry Charpentier and Montana Legal Services Association. This CLE will address the importance of maintaining competency when practicing in areas of law outside of an attorney’s typical billable work, ensuring that as attorneys practice widely, they also practice wisely. In addition to covering the applicable ethical rules, the presentation will address best practices for screening matters for complexity, identifying mentors, staying up-to-date on the latest research, and managing the case from start to finish. The CLE will finally touch on the importance of being able to say no, even to meaningful litigation, when the legal expectations are more than you can realistically offer (just because you can doesn’t mean you should). Lunch is provided for in-person attendees. Virtual attendance is available. In-person space is limited, register today. Click to register. Register for all events at gallatincountybarassociation.org/events
May 20 – GCBA CLE: Evidence in the AI Age: Authentication & Expert Testimony
12:00–1:30 p.m. | Public Safety Center, Bozeman | $40.00 | 1.5 CLE credit (anticipated)
Join us for a CLE presented by University of Montana School of Law Professor Paul Kirgis. This CLE will address the rise of artificial intelligence and creation of a number of difficult evidentiary issues. AI can generate highly realistic text, video, and audio, creating risks that parties will offer fabricated and misleading evidence, or alternatively, argue that no evidence can be trusted. Traditional rules of authentication, which broadly delegate determinations of authenticity to the jury, may be insufficient to protect the truth-seeking process from these risks. At the same time, AI is capable of sophisticated research and analysis comparable to human experts, raising questions about whether existing standards for assessing expert testimony apply to AI “expertise.” This session addresses those issues, considering existing Montana law and proposals from both the Advisory Committee to the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Montana Evidence Commission to address AI in the courtroom. Lunch is provided for in-person attendees. Virtual attendance is available. In-person space is limited, register today. Click to register. Register for all events at gallatincountybarassociation.org/events
Wine Raffle to benefit the GCBA Scholarship Fund
Plenty of tickets are available for a chance to receive one of THREE wine baskets. Winners will be drawn for two of the three wine baskets, and the third wine basket will be provided to the highest donor. Tickets are available until April 30, 2026. All proceeds will go to the GCBA Scholarship Fund. Each of the three wine baskets contain: one bottle each of 2023 Famille Lançon Domaine de la Solitude, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Champagne Thiénot, and 2021 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay. Tickets are $25.00 per ticket or five for $100.00.
Purchase your tickets : https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/gallatin-county-bar-associations-2026-rural-declamation-wine-raffle
Two options to win:
1) each ticket purchased will enter you into the raffle for a wine basket
2) the highest donor will automatically win one wine basket
Note: an individual is only eligible to win one wine basket through either random drawing or highest donor.
Wine descriptions:
The 2023 Famille Lançon Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a rich, full-bodied, and sustainably produced (often organic) red blend, featuring dominant notes of dark berries, kirsch, pepper, and Mediterranean herbs. Known for its silky tannins, high concentration, and a long, spicy finish, this vintage reflects the diverse terroirs of the estate.
Champagne Thiénot is a contemporary, family-owned house in Reims known for producing elegant, fresh, and harmonious champagnes, often blending Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
The 2021 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay is a classic, rich, and full-bodied California white wine, celebrating the winery's 40th vintage with 13.8%–14.5% ABV. Known for its creamy texture, it offers prominent aromas of ripe peach, yellow apple, lemon custard, and baking spices. Sourced from the cool Carneros region, it features a long, luxurious finish balanced by bright, refreshing acidity