Court Opinion

ID: 9907234
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-05 23:06:09.268037+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:57:52.329225
License: Public Domain

ORIGINAL                                            12/05/2023

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                                                                           Case Number: OP 23-0661

                                        OP 23-0661

BOBBY F. LOWRY V,

              Petitioner,

       v.                                                             ORDER

 CAPTAIN BRAGG,                                                     RILED
 Lewis and Clark County Detention Center,
                                                                     DEC 5 2023
                                                                   Bowen Greenwood
              Respondent.                                        Clei K of Supreme Court
                                                                    State of Montanal

      Bobby F. Lowry V has filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, asking this Court
to "intervene" in his recent jury conviction in the Lewis and Clark County District Court
because direct appeal will not provide a timely remedy. He also "moves this Court to
assign him legal and hearing assistance to allow him to participate in this writ process" and
to overturn his conviction. Lowry explains that he could not participate in his legal
proceedings because of his inability to hear or to afford a replacement hearing aid.
       Habeas corpus affords applicants an opportunity to collaterally challenge the
legality of their present incarceration but is not a substitute for direct appeal of a person's
conviction. Lott v. State, 2006 MT 279, ¶ 9, 334 Mont. 270, 150 P.3d 337. Lowry is
incarcerated pending sentencing for his conviction. Direct appeal is an adequate remedy,
and the required process, for a challenge to that conviction. Section 46-22-101(2), MCA.
       IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Lowry's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
is DENIED and DISMISSED.
       The Clerk of the Supreme Court is directed to provide a copy of this Order to Angie
Sparks, Clerk of District Court, Lewis and Clark County, under Cause No. BDC-2022-131
and for distribution to counsel of record in the criminal case; to counsel of record, and to
Bobby F. Lowry V personally.
           2 4-/"\—,
DATED this-S   day of Decernber, 2023.

                                         eS21i   / 04

                                                  Justices

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