Court Opinion

ID: 9375652
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-28 16:05:47.596178+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:00.809652
License: Public Domain

02/27/2023

           IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                         Case Number: DA 22-0535

                                      DA 22-0535
                                   _________________

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF:

NANCY J. VAIRA,

            Petitioner and Appellee,
                                                                   ORDER
      v.

DUANE E. SMITH,

            Respondent and Appellant.
                               _________________

       This Court reviews briefs to ensure compliance with Rules 11 and 12 of the Montana
Rules of Appellate Procedure. After reviewing the Appellant’s Opening Brief filed on
February 24, 2023, this Court has determined that the brief does not comply with Rule 12
and must be supplemented as provided below.
       Pursuant to M. R. App. P. 12(1)(i), appellants must attach an “appendix that includes
the relevant judgment, order(s), findings of fact, conclusions of law, jury instruction(s),
ruling(s), or decision(s) from which the appeal is taken together with any written
memorandum or rationale of the court” to an opening brief. Appellant Duane E. Smith’s
opening brief did not contain an appendix.
       Additionally, the opening brief appears to be missing pages. After the Tables of
Cases, Statutes, and Other Legal Authorities, the brief begins at page 3 mid-sentence.
       IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the referenced brief is rejected.
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within ten (10) days of the date of this Order the
Appellant Duane Smith shall electronically file with the Clerk of this Court a revised brief
and appendix containing the revisions necessary to comply with the specified Rules and that
Appellant shall serve copies of the revised brief and appendix on all parties of record;
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that no changes, additions, or deletions other than those
specified in this Order may be made to the brief as originally filed;
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Rule 12(4) of the Temporary Electronic
Filing Rules, that Appellants shall submit a paper copy of the relevant judgment or order(s)
from which appeal is taken with each of the seven paper copies of the electronically filed
brief; and
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the times for any subsequent briefing contained in
M. R. App. P. 13 shall run from the date of filing of the revised brief.
       The Clerk is directed to provide a true copy of this Order to the Appellant Duane E.
Smith and to all parties of record.

                                              2

                                                                                Electronically signed by:
                                                                                       Beth Baker
                                                                           Justice, Montana Supreme Court
                                                                                   February 27 2023