Opinion
DA 22-0579
05-03-2023
JOSEPH E. LAWRENCE, Plaintiff and Appellant. v. LARRY PASHA, MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, REGINALD MICHAEL, LYNN GUYER, MICHELE MORGENROTH, BILL WEDDINGTON, HAROLD STREY, MARIEKE BECK, CHAD DAY, STATE OF MONTANA, MONTANA STATE PRISON, MONTANA HUMAN RIGHTS BUREAU, and MONTANA MDOC PREA COORDINATION, Defendants and Appellees.
ORDER
Appellant Joseph E. Lawrence moves this Court for appointment of counsel in his pending appeal. He states that he is incarcerated and that he lacks any formal legal training. He contends that his "inability to articulate claims in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved[.]" The State of Montana responds that Lawrence's motion should be denied because it fails to conform to this Court's rules and it is improper . The State points out that Lawrence did not serve a copy of the motion on opposing counsel.
Lawrence appeals a September 26, 2022 Order granting the Defendants' motion for summary judgment on all claims, issued in the Third Judicial District Court, Powell County. This Court observes that this case has been sent for classification because the reply brief was filed on the same date of Lawrence's motion. The briefing has been completed.
We conclude that Lawrence is not entitled to the appointment of counsel. Therefore, IT IS ORDERED that Lawrence's Motion for Appointment of Counsel is DENIED, as moot.
The Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Order to counsel of record and to Joseph E. Lawrence personally.