The Commission on Practice, a regulatory board for Montana lawyers, found Attorney General Austin Knudsen guilty of violating the professional rules of conduct.

During a 2021 case between the Montana Supreme Court and the state legislature. The board recommended that Knudsen lose his law license for 90 days. In a statement, attorney general spokeswoman Emily Cantrell said Knudsen plans to appeal, arguing that the proposed sentence lacks merit and that he was not afforded a fair trial.

Knudsen argued that he was doing his job to carry out the wishes of the state legislature in the 2021 case, which the commission rejected and wrote that attorneys are not weapons to be wielded at the discretion of any client.

They wrote that the failure to enforce the rules of professional conduct is an invitation to anarchy if Knudsen’s appeal is denied and the recommendation moves forward, the Montana Supreme Court has the final say on whether to accept, modify or reject it.

On Thursday, five of the high court’s seven judges declined to make that decision. District court judges will likely be appointed to fill in.

It is unclear whether the disciplinary action will affect Knudsen’s re-election campaign. The issue may not be resolved before the Nov. 5 election.