Court Opinion

ID: 9942601
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-21 16:10:20.28174+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:48:17.425537
License: Public Domain

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                                                                                                 02/20/2024

                IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                                 Case Number: DA 23-0437

                                             DA 23-0437

     STATE OF MONTANA,
                                                                                      FILED
                                                                                      FEB 2 0 2024
                   Plaintiff and Appellee,                                         Bowen
                                                                                           Greenwood
                                                                                 Clerk of Supreme
                                                                                    State of      Court
                                                                                             Montana

           v.                                                             ORDER

     MICHAEL C. MITCHELL,

                   Defendant and Appellant.

           In a February 6, 2024 Order, this Court dismissed with prejudice this appeal of a
    criminal sentence, filed by self-represented Appellant Michael C. Mitchell. The dismissal
    was predicated upon Mitchell's failure to file a status report after this Court received the
    Jefferson County District Court record on September 8, 2023. This Court issued an Order
    requiring a status report on December 15, 2023, regarding the transcripts. On January 4,
    2024, the Clerk of the Supreme Court noted in this Court's filing database that Mitchell
    had sent a letter, requesting an extension of time and court-appointed counsel. This Court
    never saw the letter because it was not filed, being returned for lack of service to opposing
    counsel. Mitchell renewed his motion for appointment of counsel in a separate pleading,
    dated January 20, 2024. That pleading was filed on February 12, 2024. We observe that
    Mitchell is currently incarcerated in the Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona.
           "For every wrong there is a remedy." Section 1-3-214, MCA. It appears he is
    entitled to counsel in this appeal. Sections 46-20-104, 46-8-103(1), MCA. Upon review,
    this Court enters the following Order.
           IT IS ORDERED that:
           1. the February 6, 2024 Order, dismissing this appeal with prejudice, is VACATED
                and this appeal is returned to the status as Pre-Briefing instead of Post-Decision;
           2. Mitchell's Motion for Appointment of Counsel is GRANTED; and
      3. the Appellate Defender Division shall have thirty days from the date of this
          Order within which to file either a Notice of Appearance or a Motion to Rescind
          this Order appointing counsel. The Appellate Defender Division shall order any
          necessary transcripts.
      The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to the Appellate Defender
Division; to counsel of record, and to Michael C. Mitchell, Saguaro Correctional Center,
1250 E. Arica Road, Eloy, AZ, 85131.
      DATED this e'l`"""diy of February, 2024.

                                                             Chief Justice

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                                                                 Justices

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