State v. A. Smith
DA 22-0484
·Direct Appeal ·Criminal ·Closed
Docket
DA 22-0484
Type
Direct Appeal — Homicide-Deliberate
Classification
Criminal
Outcome
Affirmed
Lower court case
DC-21-2
Lower court judge
Hon. Jon A. Oldenburg
Key dates
Closed
Dec 29, 2025
Classified
Feb 14, 2025
Appeal filed
Aug 25, 2022
Record filed
Oct 21, 2022
Oral argument
Apr 4, 2025
Briefing ended
Dec 26, 2024
Opinion issued
Dec 9, 2025
Briefing started
Nov 22, 2022
Transcript filed
Nov 22, 2022
Sent to the court
Dec 26, 2024
Submitted for decision
Apr 4, 2025
Appellant Reply Brief Filed
Dec 26, 2024
Appellant Opening Brief Filed
May 31, 2024
Appellee Response Brief Filed
Nov 12, 2024
Calculated
from the docket dates
Appeal filed to briefing start
89
Briefing days
765
Briefing start to opening brief filed
556
Classified to Opinion
298
Close of briefing to sent to court
0
Filing date to Opinion
1,202
Filing date to closed
1,222
Opening to response
165
Opinion to closed
19
Oral argument to Opinion
249
Response to reply
43
Sent to court to classified
49
Sent to court to oral argument
98
Submitted for decision to Opinion
348
Tags
Affirmed
Closed
En Banc
Oral Argument
Published opinion
Parties
Opinion
State v. A. Smith, 2025 MT 281Affirmed on December 9, 2025, in a 7 to 0 published opinion.
Events
most recent first
Record - DC Record Return Card Filed
Jan 12, 2026
2:20 PM
Record
Record - DC Record Returned to District Court
Dec 29, 2025
8:54 AM
Record
Event - Case Closed
Dec 29, 2025
8:53 AM
Closing Notice
Notice - Outgoing - Opinion Release Notice Issued
Dec 29, 2025
8:43 AM
Notice - Outgoing
Notice - Outgoing - Remittitur Issued
Dec 29, 2025
8:37 AM
Closing Notice
Opinion - Published - Chief Justice Swanson - Affirmed
Dec 9, 2025
3:11 PM
Opinion
Event - Oral Argument Presented - Colin Stephens argued for the appellant. Roy Brown argued for the Appellee. The matter was submitted at 11:04 a.m
Apr 4, 2025
11:04 AM
Event
Notice - Incoming - Receipt of Oral Argument - COLIN STEPHENS
Feb 21, 2025
2:40 PM
Notice - Incoming
Notice - Incoming - Receipt of Oral Argument - Roy Brown
Feb 19, 2025
10:45 AM
Notice - Incoming
Notice - Outgoing - Oral Argument Scheduled
Feb 19, 2025
10:27 AM
Notice - Outgoing
Order - This cause is classified for oral argument before the Court sitting en banc and is hereby set for argument on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Dennison Theatre on the campus of University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, with an introduction to the oral argument beginning at 9:30 a.m. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to M. R. App. P. 17(3), oral argument times in this cause number shall be forty (40) minutes for Appellants and thirty (30) minutes for Appellees
Feb 14, 2025
8:52 AM
Classifying Notice
Event - Case Sent to Court
Dec 26, 2024
3:03 PM
Classifying Notice
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed
Dec 26, 2024
3:02 PM
Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant Reply
Dec 26, 2024
12:08 PM
Appellant Reply Brief
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including December 26, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's reply brief. No further extensions will be granted
Nov 19, 2024
10:13 AM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Brief - First Request - Appellant's Reply Brief
Nov 19, 2024
9:11 AM
Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed
Nov 13, 2024
9:04 AM
Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellee's Response
Nov 12, 2024
3:55 PM
Appellee Response Brief
Order - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including November 12, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve its response brief
Sep 18, 2024
4:43 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellee's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension
Sep 18, 2024
4:14 PM
Motion
Order - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including September 28, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve its response brief
Jul 24, 2024
9:03 AM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension (Response Brief)
Jul 23, 2024
3:15 PM
Motion
Extension - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including July 30, 2024, within which to prepare, serve, and file its response brief
Jun 19, 2024
3:44 PM
Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellee Brief (First Request 30 Days)
Jun 19, 2024
3:11 PM
Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed
May 31, 2024
4:29 PM
Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant's Opening
May 31, 2024
2:30 PM
Appellant Opening Brief
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including May 28, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal
Apr 26, 2024
1:40 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension (OPENING)
Apr 26, 2024
10:11 AM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including April 26, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal
Mar 27, 2024
11:58 AM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension of Time to File Opening Brief
Mar 27, 2024
9:38 AM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including March 27, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal
Feb 26, 2024
2:52 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension to file Appellant's Brief
Feb 26, 2024
12:30 PM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including February 26, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief
Jan 26, 2024
12:37 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief
Jan 26, 2024
10:58 AM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension to January 26, 2024 to prepare, file, and serve the Appellant's Opening brief
Dec 28, 2023
1:23 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension of Time to File Opening Brief
Dec 28, 2023
10:09 AM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension of time until December 27, 2023 to prepare, file, and serve the Appellant's Opening brief on appeal
Nov 28, 2023
10:48 AM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension
Nov 27, 2023
4:08 PM
Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including November 27, 2023, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal
Oct 23, 2023
3:51 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Appellant's Extension of Time - Brief
Oct 23, 2023
3:29 PM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension to October 23, 2023, to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief
Sep 15, 2023
1:27 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension to file Appellant's Brief
Sep 14, 2023
3:47 PM
Motion
Notice - Incoming - Appearance - Colin Stephens, appointment as Contract Counsel for Appellant
Aug 30, 2023
1:08 PM
Notice - Incoming
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including September 22, 2023, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief
Aug 16, 2023
2:09 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension
Aug 16, 2023
11:48 AM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension to August 23, 2023, to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief
Jul 17, 2023
1:47 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension
Jul 17, 2023
11:08 AM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including July 24, 2023, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal
Jun 15, 2023
12:17 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension
Jun 14, 2023
9:52 PM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including June 23, 2023
May 16, 2023
11:35 AM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension
May 16, 2023
9:46 AM
Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including May 24, 2023, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief
Apr 17, 2023
12:07 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension to file Appellant's Brief
Apr 17, 2023
9:07 AM
Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including April 24, 2023, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief
Mar 15, 2023
11:08 AM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension to file Appellant's Brief
Mar 15, 2023
9:30 AM
Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including March 23, 2023, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief
Feb 13, 2023
1:06 PM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension to file Appellant's Brief
Feb 13, 2023
11:45 AM
Motion
Order - Grant - Extension of Time - Appellant is granted until 2/21/23 to file the opening brief
Jan 11, 2023
11:36 AM
Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief
Jan 11, 2023
9:38 AM
Motion
Extension - Grant of Extension - Appellant is given until 1/20/23 to file the opening brief
Dec 16, 2022
8:51 AM
Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellant's Opening Brief (First Request 30 Days)
Dec 14, 2022
7:59 PM
Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Transcript Filed
Nov 22, 2022
11:30 AM
Transcript
Record - Transcript Filed - electronically transmitted transcript of 4/18/22, 4/19/22, 4/20/22 and 4/21/22 Jury Trial
Nov 21, 2022
6:06 PM
Record
Notice - Outgoing - Transcript Filed
Nov 4, 2022
8:31 AM
Transcript
Record - Transcript Filed - electronically transmitted transcripts of 11/18/21, 2/7/22, 3/9/22, 3/14/22, 4/14/22 and 6/15/22 hearings
Nov 3, 2022
9:33 PM
Record
Notice - Rulings - Other Courts - Order-Granting Court Reporter Deidre Taber an Extension of Time to Prepare Transcript to November 23, 2022
Oct 21, 2022
4:23 PM
Notice
Rulings - Other Courts - Order-Granting Court Reporter Deidre Taber an Extension of Time to Prepare Transcript to November 23, 2022
Oct 21, 2022
4:21 PM
Ruling
Notice - Outgoing - District Court Record Filed
Oct 21, 2022
11:41 AM
Record
DC Record Filed for Cause No. DC-2021-2 consisting of four 3-ring binders with documents 1-246 and one 3-ring binder of Exhibits, and Case Register Report
Oct 21, 2022
10:49 AM
Record
Notice - Outgoing - Rulings - Other Courts - Order-Granting Court Reporter Debra K. Price an Extension of Time to Prepare Transcript to November 23, 2022
Sep 13, 2022
11:52 AM
Notice - Outgoing
Rulings - Other Courts - Order-Granting Court Reporter Debra K. Price an Extension of Time to Prepare Transcript to November 23, 2022
Sep 13, 2022
11:50 AM
Ruling
Notice - Incoming - Transcripts Deemed Necessary
Aug 25, 2022
4:58 PM
Notice - Incoming
Notice - Outgoing - Appeal Notice - sent to correct district court
Aug 25, 2022
1:45 PM
Notice - Outgoing
Notice - Outgoing - Appeal Notice
Aug 25, 2022
1:29 PM
Notice - Outgoing
Notice of Appeal Filed
Aug 25, 2022
1:06 PM
Notice