Court Opinion

ID: 9874400
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-26 22:07:28.463358+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:46:48.734648
License: Public Domain

,ORIGINAL                                                                 09/26/2023

           IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                       Case Number: DA 23-0512

                                        DA 23-0512

                                                                                 FilLEn
 RICHARD E. SHREVES,
                                                                                 SEP 2 6 2023
                                                                            ClEirkovven Grmenwood
             Plaintiff and Appellant,                                         estaotef S
                                                                                       oi;% Crria
                                                                                            onterFourt

      v.
                                                                   ORDER
 MONTANA DEPT. OF LABOR &
 INDUSTRY and MONTANA DEPARTMENT
 OF CORRECTIONS,

             Respondent and Appellee.

      On his own behalf, Richard E. Shreves petitions this Court for an out-of-time appeal
and moves for appointment of counsel. Shreves states that he is incarcerated and was
moved to Idaho in late July. He explains that the First Judicial District Court, Lewis and
Clark County, entered an order on July 28, 2023, and that he did not learn about the final
judgment until August 31, 2023. To support his request of counsel, Shreves adds that, due
to his recent placement, he is without access to case law, typewriter, or research to
prosecute his appeal.
      M. R. App. P. 4(6) allows this Court to grant an out-of-time appeal "[i]n the
infrequent harsh case and under extraordinary circumstances arnounting to a gross
miscarriage of justicery
      Upon review, this Court observes that Shreves's appeal is tirnely. The District Court
entered a final judgment in the civil case on July 28, 2023. The State of Montana
Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Corrections each filed Notice of
Entry of Judgment on August 1, 2023, according to the register of actions, secured from
the District Court. Because the State of Montana is a party to Shreves's proceeding,
Shreves has sixty, not thirty, days to file a tirnely Notice of Appeal. M. R. App. P.
4(5)(a)(i). ShreVes's appeal may proceed.
      Shreves, however, is not entitled to appointment of counsel in this appeal. There is
no right to appointment of counsel in civil cases under Montana-law. We point out that
Shreves represented himself in the District Court.
      IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Shreves's timely appeal shall proceed under
the above Cause Number. Shreves shall prepare, file, and serve a Notice of Appeal on or
before Tuesday, October 24, 2023.
      IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Shreves's Motion for Appointment of Counsel is
DENIED.
      The Clerk of the Supreme Court is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel
of redord and to Richard E. Shreves along with a copy of this CourCs Appellate Handbook.
                     ,
       DATED this C6 'day of September, 2023.

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