Court Opinion

ID: 9954068
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-25 17:07:18.4681+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:11:49.826461
License: Public Domain

03/22/2024

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                          Case Number: DA 23-0026

                                      DA 23-0026
                                   _________________

 STATE OF MONTANA,

              Plaintiff and Appellee,

       v.                                                            ORDER

 THOMAS WOJTOWICZ,

              Defendant and Appellant.
                                _________________

       On March 12, 2024, the State filed a Motion to Strike Appellant’s Reply Brief as
overlength and citing material not admitted in the record. Wojtowicz timely responded,
conceding the brief was overlength and requesting additional time to file a revised brief.
       The State relies on the Certificate of Compliance filed with Appellant’s Reply Brief,
which states that the word count of the brief is 8,147 words. The State also identified
evidence cited in support of Appellant’s arguments contained in his Reply Brief that was
not admitted during the proceedings below.
       After reviewing Appellant’s Reply Brief, we have determined the word count
contained in the Certificate of Compliance does not reflect the actual word count of the
document. The actual word count of the Brief is approximately 5,000 words.
       We also note the State’s contention that the Brief contains evidence from outside
the record. To the extent that the Brief contains materials not in the record, those materials
will not be considered in rendering our decision.
       Therefore,
       IT IS ORDERED that Appellee’s Motion to Strike Appellant’s Reply Brief, is
DENIED.
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Appellant’s request for time to file a revised
Reply Brief is DENIED.
       The Clerk is directed to give notice of this Order to all counsel of record.
                                                                               Electronically signed by:
                                                                                     Mike McGrath
                                                                        Chief Justice, Montana Supreme Court
                                                                                    March 22 2024