Case Name: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. SANDRA JORDAN NEWMAN, Defendant and Appellant
Court: Montana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Montana
Decision Date: 2005-12-28
Citations: 330 Mont. 160
Docket Number: No. 04-507
Parties: STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. SANDRA JORDAN NEWMAN, Defendant and Appellant.
Judges: JUSTICE COTTER joins in the special concurrence of JUSTICE NELSON.
Reporter: Montana Reports
Volume: 330
Pages: 160–185

Head Matter:
STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. SANDRA JORDAN NEWMAN, Defendant and Appellant.
No. 04-507.
Submitted on Briefs July 13, 2005.
Decided December 28, 2005.
2005 MT 348.
330 Mont. 160.
127 P.3d 374.
For Appellant: Kristina Neal, Appellate Defender Office, Helena.
For Respondent: Hon. Mike McGrath, Montana Attorney General, Pamela P. Collins, Assistant Attorney General, Helena; George H. Cora, Ravalli County Attorney, William Fulbright, Deputy County Attorney, Hamilton.

Opinion:
¶1 Following a jury trial in the District Court for the Twenty-First Judicial District, Ravalli County, Sandra Jordan Newman (Newman) was convicted of four drug-related offenses. Newman appeals. We reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial.
¶2 Four members of this Court agree that Newman's conviction should be reversed and that this cause should be remanded for a new trial. There is not agreement amongst these members as to the basis for reversal, however. Therefore, Justice James C. Nelson (joined by Justice Patricia O. Cotter) and Justice W. William Leaphart (joined by Justice Brian M. Morris) each specially and separately concur that this cause be reversed and remanded for a new trial. The dispositive issues, facts and arguments will be addressed separately in each special concurrence.
¶3 We reverse and remand for a new trial.