Opinion
DA 21-0575
04-20-2022
IN THE MATTER OF: B.L., A Youth in Need of Care.
ORDER
This Court reviews briefs to ensure compliance with Rules 10, 11, and 12 of the Montana Rules of Appellate Procedure. After reviewing the opening brief of the Appellant Father, B.L. Sr., which was filed electronically on April 19, 2022, this Court has determined that the brief does not comply with the below-referenced Rule and must be resubmitted.
M. R. App. P. 10(7) requires the redaction of confidential personal information from documents filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court, including the "fall birth dates" of Youths in Need of Care (YINCs). The Court has determined that page 2 of Appellant's opening brief lists the full birth date-that is, the month, day, and year-of the YINC in this matter, B.L. There is also a second, indirect reference to B.L.'s full birth date located in the first sentence of the "Statement of the Case and Facts" section on page 1 of Appellant's brief. To comply with M. R. App. P. 10(7), Appellant must remove each of these two references to B.L.'s full birth date. In making these corrections, we advise Appellant that references to the month and year of B.L.'s birth alone-that is. references which do not include an exact day of the month-are acceptable under M. R. App. P. 10(7). Therefore, IT IS ORDERED that the referenced brief is rejected.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within fourteen (14) days of the date of this Order the Appellant shall electronically file with the Clerk of this Court a revised brief containing the revisions necessary to comply with the specified Rule and that the Appellant shall serve copies of the revised brief 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; 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 and to all parties of record.