Mont. Code Ann. » TITLE 2. GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION · CHAPTER 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT · Part 7. Judicial Review of Contested Cases
Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704 (2026)

Standards Of Review

✓ current as of May 2026
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  1. MCA Contents
  2. TITLE 2
  3. CHAPTER 4
  4. Part 7
  5. 2-4-704 Standards of review

TITLE 2. GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT

Part 7. Judicial Review of Contested Cases

Standards Of Review

2-4-704. Standards of review. (1) The review must be conducted by the court without a jury and must be confined to the record. In cases of alleged irregularities in procedure before the agency not shown in the record, proof of the irregularities may be taken in the court. The court, upon request, shall hear oral argument and receive written briefs.

(2) The court may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The court may affirm the decision of the agency or remand the case for further proceedings. The court may reverse or modify the decision if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because:

(a) the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are:

(i) in violation of constitutional or statutory provisions;

(ii) in excess of the statutory authority of the agency;

(iii) made upon unlawful procedure;

(iv) affected by other error of law;

(v) clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record;

(vi) arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion; or

(b) findings of fact, upon issues essential to the decision, were not made although requested.

(3) If a petition for review is filed challenging a licensing or permitting decision made pursuant to Title 75 or Title 82 on the grounds of unconstitutionality, as provided in subsection (2)(a)(i), the petitioner shall first establish the unconstitutionality of the underlying statute.

History: En. Sec. 16, Ch. 2, Ex. L. 1971; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 285, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 82-4216(6), (7); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 83, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 361, L. 2003.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 296 cases (29 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: McDonald v. Dep't of Env't Quality, 2009 MT 209 (Mont. 2009).
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McDonald v. Dep't of Env't Quality, 2009 MT 209 (Mont. 2009). · cites it 22× “See § 2-4-704, MCA. ¶ 76 Turning then to health or safety risks, DEQ asserts that mats and runners pose a "significant maintenance challenge" because "they must be moved daily to sweep the floors.”
City of Billings v. Billings Firefighters Local No. 521, 651 P.2d 627 (Mont. 1982). · cites it 24× “Section 2-4-704, MCA, sets forth the MAPA standards of review to be followed by a district court when reviewing an agency decision.”
State Ex Rel. Montana Wilderness Ass'n v. Bd. of Nat. Resources & Conservation, 648 P.2d 734 (Mont. 1982). · cites it 32× “Section 2-4-704, MCA, provides in part: "(2) The court may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact.”
Yanzick v. Sch. Dist. No. 23, Etc., 641 P.2d 431 (Mont. 1982). · cites it 18× “The standard of review applicable to the District Court is set forth in section 2-4-704, MCA, in pertinent part as follows: "(1) The review shall be conducted by the court without a jury and shall be confined to the record.”
Hohenlohe v. State, Dep't of Nat. Resources & Conservation, 2010 MT 203 (Mont. 2010). · cites it 26× “¶ 20 Hohenlohes petitioned for judicial review pursuant to § 2-4-704, MCA. The District Court granted Hohenlohes' petition on June 10, 2009.”
Wage Claims of Stewart v. Region II Child & Fam. Servs., 788 P.2d 913 (Mont. 1990). · cites it 22× “Furthermore, § 2-4-704, MCA, provides for remand for additional factual findings only if they are essential to the decision and if they were not made although requested.”
Montana Power Co. v. Montana Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 2001 MT 102 (Mont. 2001). · cites it 8× “The District Court was then required to follow the standard of review as set forth in the Montana Administrative Procedure Act, under § 2-4-704, MCA. ¶20 In turn, judicial review of an agency decision under the contested case statutes permits a court to reverse or modify the…”
North Fork Pres. Ass'n v. Dep't of State Lands, 778 P.2d 862 (Mont. 1989). · cites it 12× “(e) clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record.”
Owens v. Montana Dep't of Revenue, 2007 MT 298 (Mont. 2007). · cites it 12× “Section 2-4-704(2), MCA. We employ a three-part test to determine whether an agency's findings of fact are clearly erroneous: (1) we review the record to see if substantial evidence supports the findings, (2) if substantial evidence supports the findings, we determine if the…”
Norval Elec. Coop v. Lawson, 2022 MT 245 (Mont. 2022). · cites it 14× “Under MAPA, a court may not “substitute its judgment for that of the agency” on questions of fact; it may, however, reverse of modify administrative findings if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings are: i) in violation of…”
Frazer Sch. Dist. No. 2 v. Flynn, 732 P.2d 409 (Mont. 1987). · cites it 26× “Appellant appeals from the decision of the District Court. We are asked to determine whether the decision of the District Court complies with the Montana Administrative Procedures Act, specifically § 2-4-704, MCA, and § 2-4-623, MCA, and whether the decision of the Valley County…”
Steer, Inc. v. Dep't of Revenue, 803 P.2d 601 (Mont. 1990). · cites it 4× “The District Court further stated that STAB ignored testimony that stated that Steer's funds were used in projects "that were charitable rather than strictly evangelistic" such as a hospital construction and educational contributions.”
Show all 296 citing cases →
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(1) — 34 cases
McDonald v. Dep't of Env't Quality, 2009 MT 209 (Mont. 2009). “See § 2-4-704, MCA. ¶ 76 Turning then to health or safety risks, DEQ asserts that mats and runners pose a "significant maintenance challenge" because "they must be moved daily to sweep the floors.”
Williamson v. Montana Pub. Serv. Comm'n & Nw. Energy, 2012 MT 32 (Mont. 2012).
Heffernan v. Missoula City Council, 2011 MT 91 (Mont. 2011).
Peretti v. State, Dep't of Revenue, 2016 MT 105 (Mont. 2016).
Molnar v. Fox, 2013 MT 132 (Mont. 2013).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2) — 142 cases
Wage Claims of Stewart v. Region II Child & Fam. Servs., 788 P.2d 913 (Mont. 1990). “Furthermore, § 2-4-704, MCA, provides for remand for additional factual findings only if they are essential to the decision and if they were not made although requested.”
Benjamin v. Anderson, 2005 MT 123 (Mont. 2005).
McDonald v. Dep't of Env't Quality, 2009 MT 209 (Mont. 2009). “See § 2-4-704, MCA. ¶ 76 Turning then to health or safety risks, DEQ asserts that mats and runners pose a "significant maintenance challenge" because "they must be moved daily to sweep the floors.”
State Ex Rel. Montana Wilderness Ass'n v. Bd. of Nat. Resources & Conservation, 648 P.2d 734 (Mont. 1982). “Section 2-4-704, MCA, provides in part: "(2) The court may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact.”
PacifiCorp v. Dep't of Revenue, 838 P.2d 914 (Mont. 1992).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(a) — 28 cases
Denke v. Shoemaker, 2008 MT 418 (Mont. 2008).
McDonald v. Dep't of Env't Quality, 2009 MT 209 (Mont. 2009). “See § 2-4-704, MCA. ¶ 76 Turning then to health or safety risks, DEQ asserts that mats and runners pose a "significant maintenance challenge" because "they must be moved daily to sweep the floors.”
Norval Elec. Coop v. Lawson, 2022 MT 245 (Mont. 2022). “Under MAPA, a court may not “substitute its judgment for that of the agency” on questions of fact; it may, however, reverse of modify administrative findings if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings are: i) in violation of…”
State Ex Rel. Montana Wilderness Ass'n v. Bd. of Nat. Resources & Conservation, 648 P.2d 734 (Mont. 1982). “Section 2-4-704, MCA, provides in part: "(2) The court may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact.”
Weber v. Pub. Employees' Ret. Bd., 890 P.2d 1296 (Mont. 1995).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(a)(i) — 14 cases
Montana Power Co. v. Montana Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 2001 MT 102 (Mont. 2001). “The District Court was then required to follow the standard of review as set forth in the Montana Administrative Procedure Act, under § 2-4-704, MCA. ¶20 In turn, judicial review of an agency decision under the contested case statutes permits a court to reverse or modify the…”
Briese v. Montana Pub. Employees' Ret. Bd., 2012 MT 192 (Mont. 2012).
Shoemaker v. Denke, 2004 MT 11 (Mont. 2004).
PacifiCorp v. Dep't of Revenue, 838 P.2d 914 (Mont. 1992).
Abbey v. City of Billings Police Comm'n, 886 P.2d 922 (Mont. 1994).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(a)(ii) — 3 cases
Whitehall Wind, LLC v. Montana Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 2015 MT 119 (Mont. 2015).
Vote Solar v. PSC, 2020 MT 213 (Mont. 2020).
Vote Solar v. PSC (Mont. 2020).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(a)(iii) — 1 case
CEnTech Corp. v. Sprow, 2006 MT 27 (Mont. 2006).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(a)(iv) — 11 cases
Citizens Awareness Network v. Montana Bd. of Env't Review, 2010 MT 10 (Mont. 2010).
Bates v. Neva, 2013 MT 246 (Mont. 2013).
Hofer v. Montana Dphhs, 2005 MT 302 (Mont. 2005).
Abbey v. City of Billings Police Comm'n, 886 P.2d 922 (Mont. 1994).
Juro's United Drug v. Montana Dep't of Pub. Health & Human Servs., 2004 MT 117 (Mont. 2004).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(a)(v) — 25 cases
Owens v. Montana Dep't of Revenue, 2007 MT 298 (Mont. 2007). “Section 2-4-704(2), MCA. We employ a three-part test to determine whether an agency's findings of fact are clearly erroneous: (1) we review the record to see if substantial evidence supports the findings, (2) if substantial evidence supports the findings, we determine if the…”
Talon Plumbing & Heating, Inc. v. State Dep't of Labor & Indus., 2008 MT 376 (Mont. 2008).
State Ex Rel. Dep't of Soc. & Rehab. Servs. v. Shodair Hosp., 902 P.2d 21 (Mont. 1995).
State Pers. Div. v. Child Support Investigators, 2002 MT 46 (Mont. 2002).
Norval Elec. Coop v. Lawson, 2022 MT 245 (Mont. 2022). “Under MAPA, a court may not “substitute its judgment for that of the agency” on questions of fact; it may, however, reverse of modify administrative findings if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings are: i) in violation of…”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(a)(vi) — 19 cases
State Pers. Div. v. Child Support Investigators, 2002 MT 46 (Mont. 2002).
Hohenlohe v. State, Dep't of Nat. Resources & Conservation, 2010 MT 203 (Mont. 2010). “¶ 20 Hohenlohes petitioned for judicial review pursuant to § 2-4-704, MCA. The District Court granted Hohenlohes' petition on June 10, 2009.”
State Ex Rel. Dep't of Soc. & Rehab. Servs. v. Shodair Hosp., 902 P.2d 21 (Mont. 1995).
Blaine & Hill Co. v. Stricker, 2017 MT 80 (Mont. 2017).
Moran v. Shotgun Willies, Inc., 889 P.2d 1185 (Mont. 1995).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(b) — 6 cases
Devoe v. Mt Dep't of Revenue, 866 P.2d 228 (Mont. 1993).
Quick v. Bozeman Sch. Dist. No. 7, 1999 MT 175 (Mont. 1999).
DeVoe v. Dep't of Revenue, 866 P.2d 228 (Mont. 1994).
Kirchner v. State, Dep't of Pub. Health & Human Servs., 2005 MT 202 (Mont. 2005).
Hughes v. Montana Bd. of Med. Examiners, 2003 MT 305 (Mont. 2003).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(c) — 3 cases
Donnes v. State ex rel. Superintendent of Pub. Instruction, 672 P.2d 617 (Mont. 1983).
Chauffeurs Etc. v. City of Billin, 648 P.2d 1169 (Mont. 1982).
Donnes v. State Ex Rel. Super. of Pub. Instr., 672 P.2d 617 (Mont. 1983).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(d) — 2 cases
Johnson v. Bozeman Sch. Dist. No. 7, 734 P.2d 209 (Mont. 1987).
Landon v. Labor Standards Div., 649 P.2d 1341 (Mont. 1982).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(e) — 20 cases
City of Billings v. Billings Firefighters Local No. 521, 651 P.2d 627 (Mont. 1982). “Section 2-4-704, MCA, sets forth the MAPA standards of review to be followed by a district court when reviewing an agency decision.”
North Fork Pres. Ass'n v. Dep't of State Lands, 778 P.2d 862 (Mont. 1989). “(e) clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record.”
Frazer Sch. Dist. No. 2 v. Flynn, 732 P.2d 409 (Mont. 1987). “Appellant appeals from the decision of the District Court. We are asked to determine whether the decision of the District Court complies with the Montana Administrative Procedures Act, specifically § 2-4-704, MCA, and § 2-4-623, MCA, and whether the decision of the Valley County…”
Thornton v. Comm'r of Dep't of Labor & Indus., 621 P.2d 1062 (Mont. 1981).
Wage Claims of Chagnon v. Hardy Constr. Co., 680 P.2d 932 (Mont. 1984).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(f) — 1 case
Frazer Sch. Dist. No. 2 v. Flynn, 732 P.2d 409 (Mont. 1987). “Appellant appeals from the decision of the District Court. We are asked to determine whether the decision of the District Court complies with the Montana Administrative Procedures Act, specifically § 2-4-704, MCA, and § 2-4-623, MCA, and whether the decision of the Valley County…”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(g) — 2 cases
In Re the Revocation of Certificate of Reg. of Shaw, 615 P.2d 910 (Mont. 1980).
Bd. of Trs., Clinton Elementary Sch. Dist. 32 v. Bd. of Trs., Bonner Elementary Sch. Dist. 14, 719 P.2d 1240 (Mont. 1986).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(ii) — 2 cases
Nw. Corp. v. Montana Dep't of Pub. Serv. Reg., 2016 MT 239 (Mont. 2016).
Nw. v. PSC, 2016 MT 239 (Mont. 2016).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(iii) — 2 cases
Centech Corp. v. Sprow, 2001 MT 298 (Mont. 2001).
Vaccaro v. Three Forks Ambulance, 2025 MT 230N (Mont. 2025).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(v) — 4 cases
Montana Env't Info. Ctr. v. Montana Dep't of Env't Quality, 2005 MT 96 (Mont. 2005).
Kemp v. State Bd. of Pers. Appeals, 1999 MT 255 (Mont. 1999).
Vote Solar v. PSC, 2020 MT 213 (Mont. 2020).
Vote Solar v. PSC (Mont. 2020).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2)(vi) — 2 cases
Dowell v. Montana Dep't of Pub. Health & Human Servs., 2006 MT 55 (Mont. 2006).
Montana Dep't of Transp. v. Montana Dep't of Labor & Indus., 2016 MT 282 (Mont. 2016).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(2Xd) — 1 case
Snell v. Montana-Dakota Utils. Co., 643 P.2d 841 (Mont. 1982).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(e) — 1 case
Wage Claims of Chagnon v. Hardy Constr. Co., 680 P.2d 932 (Mont. 1984).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 2-4-704(l) — 1 case
Hohenlohe v. State, Dep't of Nat. Resources & Conservation, 2010 MT 203 (Mont. 2010). “¶ 20 Hohenlohes petitioned for judicial review pursuant to § 2-4-704, MCA. The District Court granted Hohenlohes' petition on June 10, 2009.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.