Sheriff Addresses Health Board/R Bar Hearing at L & J Center

With many Gallatin County residents following the dispute between the R Bar in Bozeman and the Gallatin County Health Department, Sheriff Brian Gootkin issued a statement about the hearing between the two parties that is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

The sheriff said in part: "Due to COVID restrictions, we will only be allowed to let 18 people into the courtroom."

According to a press release issued on Monday, the Sheriff's Office will designate an area outside of the Law & Justice Center for people who wish to show their support for the parties involved.

"We will not allow people to protest or support inside the building, Gootkin said. "As always, we trust that people will be respectful regardless of their opinions."

The Gallatin County Health Department filed a lawsuit against the R Bar for violating the 10 p.m. closing time ordered by the health department for all restaurants and bars back on November 9th. The earlier closing time was instituted on top of restrictions that were already in place because of what they termed "rapid, widespread, and sustained increases in new cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations, and outbreaks in several long-term care facilities for seniors."

Two weeks ago, a judge denied a request from the Gallatin City-County Health Department for a temporary restraining order against the Rocking R Bar, attempting to stop them from staying open past 10 p.m. After denying the health department the restraining order, the judge set a hearing date for December 15th.

The hearing, which begins Tuesday at 9 a.m., will be shown on Zoom. You can watch by clicking on the button below. The passcode is 352093

You can also join by phone. Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 646 558 8656
Webinar ID: 933 2342 6355
Passcode: 352093

Or an H.323/SIP room system:
H.323: 162.255.37.11 (US West) or 162.255.36.11 (US East)
Webinar ID: 933 2342 6355
Passcode: 352093

SIP: 93323426355@zoomcrc.com
Passcode: 352093