The Montana First Judicial District Court issued an order to let Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathon Motl stay in office until a case to extend his appointment is heard, reserving the ending date issue for determination by the Court.

A lawsuit filed last month asserts Motl, who was confirmed by the Senate in 2013, should be allowed to complete a full six-year term of service extending his appointment until June 2019. Montana Senate Republicans, who have repeatedly accused Motl of bias against them in his decisions, have introduced a resolution seeking to intervene in the case to “vigorously defend and protect in all court proceedings the legal integrity of (the) Senate’s constitutional confirmation authority.”

If the resolution passes, the Senate will assert that Motl’s term ended on January 1, 2017. A hearing is expected on the issue in early 2017.