Court Opinion

ID: 9952673
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-20 15:09:30.091046+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:37.874935
License: Public Domain

D      ORIGINAL
                                                                                         03/20/2024

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                             Case Number: DA 22-0679

                                       DA 22-0651
                                       DA 22-0678
                                       DA 22-0679
                                       DA 22-0680

 STATE OF MONTANA,

             Plaintiff and Appellee,

       v.                                                          ORDER

 REX WILLIAM ALLEN,                                                              FLED
              Defendant and Appellant:
                                                                                  MAR 19 an
                                                                                Bowen Greenwood
                                                                              Clerk of Supreme Court
                                                                                 State of Montana

      Appellant Rex William Allen, via counsel, moves for an order remanding this matter
to the Thirteenth Judicial District Court, Yellowstone County, and staying this appeal
pending the District Court's ruling on Allen's pending motions to remove counsel and
withdraw guilty pleas in that court. Appellee State of Montana does not oppose this
motion.
      On August 31, 2022, the District Court held a sentencing hearing in which it
imposed sentences upon Allen for five separate proceedings. Allen subsequently appealed
four of those convictions to this Court: DA 22-0651, appealing DC 21-1392; DA 22-0678,
appealing DC 21-1466; DA 22-0679, appealing DC 21-1604; and DA 22-0680, appealing
DC 21-0189. In each case, Allen petitioned as a self-representative for leave to file an
out-of-time appeal and requested counsel. This Court granted leave for out-of-time appeal
in each case and appointed the Appellate Defender Division.
      Appellate counsel now advises this Court that Allen had petitioned to remove his
appointed trial counsel and to withdraw his guilty pleas prior to his sentencing hearing on
August 31, 2022, but the District Court proceeded with sentencing without addressing his
petitions. The written judgments in each case also did not mention Allen's pending
petitions.
       Allen subsequently applied for Sentence Review in these cases, but the Sentence
Review Division withdrew his applications due to the pending and unresolved petitions to
remove counsel and withdraw his pleas. Allen, representing himself, then filed amended
motions to withdraw his guilty plea in each of these cases in the District Court. He later
filed motions in the District Court that requested new counsel in each case.
       Allen, via appointed appellate counsel, asks this Court to stay his pending appeals
and remand each case to the District Court so thaf it may rule on his pending motions. He
asserts that it is in the best interests of justice and efficiency for this Court to remand these
matters for this purpose, and he draws our aftention to other appeals in which we have
similarly ruled.
       Therefore, in the interest of judicial economy and with good cause appearing,
       IT IS ORDERED the appeal in this matter is STAYED and the briefing schedule is
vacated until the District Court issues a decision on Allen's pending motions.
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this case is REMANDED to the Thirteenth
Judicial District Court for the purpose of ruling on Allen's pending motions.
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, upon remand, the District Court shall appoint
Allen new counsel through the Office of Public Defender.
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the District Court shall issue a written decision
on Allen's pending motions after the conclusion of briefing or following an evidentiary
hearing, if one is held. If the District Court denies Allen's motions to withdraw his guilty
pleas, if shall file a written decision to that effect and promptly supplement the record on
appeal with such order. If the District Court grants the motion, Allen, via counsel shall
take appropriate action to resolve this appeal.
       The Clerk is directed to provide copies of this Order to all counsel of record, to the
Clerk of Court for Yellowstone County, and to the Honorable Ashley Harada, presiding
District Judge.

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Dated this °I day of March, 2024.

                                             Chief Justice

                                        ge.14.s 0'4seNe--.

                                               Justices

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