Court Opinion

ID: 9905313
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-29 00:06:49.564721+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:59.328401
License: Public Domain

11/28/2023

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                         Case Number: DA 23-0428

                                       DA 23-0428
                                    _________________

 STATE OF MONTANA,

              Plaintiff and Appellee,

       v.                                                           ORDER

 ASIA CARL SOAPES,

              Defendant and Appellant.
                                _________________

       David A. Merchant, II, counsel for Appellant Asia Carl Soapes, has moved the Court
to withdraw as counsel and for appointment of counsel from the Appellate Defender
Division. Counsel asserts that Appellant is incarcerated, has no substantial assets, and can
no longer afford private counsel.
       IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion to withdraw as counsel is
GRANTED.
       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the motion for appointment of counsel is
GRANTED. The Appellate Defender Division shall have thirty (30) 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. In the event Appellant qualifies for appointed counsel, the
Appellate Defender Division shall immediately order any additional transcripts if they have
not been already ordered.
       The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel of record, to the
Appellate Defender Division, and to Appellant Asia Carl Soapes, personally.

                                                                              Electronically signed by:
                                                                                    Mike McGrath
                                                                       Chief Justice, Montana Supreme Court
                                                                                 November 28 2023