Court Opinion

ID: 9892829
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-24 23:07:01.314492+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:47:07.553872
License: Public Domain

ORIGINAL                                          10/24/2023

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE ST4TE OF MONTANA

                                        DA 22-0083
                                                                        FILED
 STATE OF MONTANA,                                                       OCT 2 4 2023
                                                                       Bowen Greenw000
                                                                     Clerk of Supreme Court
              Plaintiff and Appellee,                                   State of falontano

       v.                                                             ORDER

 WES LEE WHITAKER,

              Defendant and Appellant.

       In an October 3, 2023 Order, this Court denied Appellant Wes Lee Whitaker's
motion to disqualify the Appellate Defender Division because he is not entitled to counsel
of his choice when represented by the Appellate Defender Division. We also stated that
Whitaker should refrain from filing pleadings on his own behalf while represented by
counsel, pursuant to M. R. App. P. 10(1)(c). Whitaker has now filed a "Motion to Proceed
Pro Se Request Stand-By Counsel or Co-Counsel" that this Court deems a Petition for
Rehearing, pursuant to M. R. App. P. 20(1).
       M. R. App. P. 20(1) provides criteria for rehearing. This Court "will consider a
petition for rehearing presented only upon . . . [t]hat it overlooked some fact material to the
decision[,] . . . or [t]hat its decision conflicts with a statute or controlling decision not
addressed by the supreme court." M. R. App. P. 20(1)(a)(i) and (iii). "Absent clearly
demonstrated exceptional circumstances, the supreme court will not grant petitions for
rehearing of its orders disposing of motions or petitions for extraordinary writs." M. R.
App. P. 20(1)(d).
       We conclude that Whitaker is not entitled to the relief he has requested. Stand-by
counsel is not an option in a direct appeal. Moreover, Whitaker's counsel from the
Appellate Defender Division has filed the opening brief on October 4, 2023. Accordingly,
      IT IS, ORDERED that Whitaker's Motion to Proceed Pro Se Request Stand-By
Counsel or Co-Counsel, deemed a Petition for Rehearing, is DENIED.
      The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel of record and to
Wes Lee Vihitaker personally.
      DATED this    c--9 day of October, 2023.

                                                 adYCS,),   Chief Justice

                                                        fie

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