State v. F. Hinkle

DA 24-0206 ·Direct Appeal ·Criminal ·Closed
Docket DA 24-0206
Type Direct Appeal — Dangerous Drugs
Classification Criminal
Outcome Affirmed
Lower court case BDC-22-242
Lower court judge Hon. Elizabeth A. Best

Key dates

Closed Mar 19, 2026
Classified Nov 19, 2025
Appeal filed Apr 4, 2024
Record filed Apr 22, 2024
Briefing ended Oct 1, 2025
Opinion issued Mar 3, 2026
Briefing started May 15, 2024
Transcript filed May 15, 2024
Sent to the court Oct 1, 2025
Submitted for decision Oct 1, 2025
Appellant Reply Brief Filed Oct 1, 2025
Appellant Opening Brief Filed Apr 1, 2025
Appellee Response Brief Filed Sep 19, 2025

Calculated

from the docket dates
Appeal filed to briefing start 42
Briefing days 503
Briefing start to opening brief filed 320
Classified to Opinion 104
Close of briefing to sent to court 0
Filing date to Opinion 699
Filing date to closed 715
Opening to response 171
Opinion to closed 15
Response to reply 11
Sent to court to classified 48
Submitted for decision to Opinion 153

Tags

Affirmed Closed Five Justice Panel Published opinion

Parties

Appellee
State of Montana
Represented by Austin Miles Knudsen Joshua A. Racki Mardell Lynn Ployhar
Appellant
Felicia Marie Hinkle
Represented by Tammy Ann Hinderman Kenneth Britton Cotter

Opinion

State v. F. Hinkle, 2026 MT 42

Affirmed on March 3, 2026, in a 5 to 0 published opinion.

Summary

Felicia Hinkle was convicted by a Cascade County jury of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia after police found large quantities of both in her home. Her appeal didn't challenge the evidence against her — it focused entirely on how the jury was assembled. Hinkle's trial had already been delayed once after the district court discovered "serious errors" in how Cascade County had been notifying and empaneling jurors, prompting a detailed order instructing the Cle...

Experimental — generated by Claude, not part of the Court’s opinion.

Events

most recent first
Record - DC Record Returned to District Court Mar 19, 2026 11:08 AM Record
Event - Case Closed Mar 19, 2026 11:07 AM Closing Notice
Notice - Outgoing - Opinion Release Notice Issued Mar 19, 2026 11:05 AM Notice - Outgoing
Notice - Outgoing - Remittitur Issued Mar 19, 2026 11:05 AM Closing Notice
Opinion - Published - Justice Rice - AFFIRMED Mar 3, 2026 2:48 PM Opinion
Order - Classified - Five Justice Panel Nov 19, 2025 10:58 AM Classifying Notice
Event - Case Sent to Court Oct 1, 2025 1:50 PM Classifying Notice
Notice - Outgoing - Appellant's Reply Brief Filed Oct 1, 2025 1:47 PM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant Reply Oct 1, 2025 10:32 AM Appellant Reply Brief
Notice - Outgoing - Appellee's Response Brief Filed Sep 19, 2025 3:38 PM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellee's Response Sep 19, 2025 2:39 PM Appellee Response Brief
Order - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including October 1, 2025, within which to prepare, serve, and file its response brief Aug 18, 2025 12:28 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Aug 18, 2025 9:59 AM Motion
Order - Appellee is given an extension of time to and including September 1, 2025, within which to prepare, serve, and file its response brief Jul 24, 2025 1:31 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellee Response Jul 24, 2025 12:18 PM Motion
Order - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including August 1, 2025, within which to prepare, serve, and file its response brief May 22, 2025 3:58 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellee's 60-day Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension May 22, 2025 3:04 PM Motion
Extension - Appellee is granted an extension of time to and including June 2, 2025, within which to prepare, serve, and file its response brief Apr 30, 2025 4:02 PM Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Extension of Time - Appellee's Brief (First Request 30 Days) Apr 30, 2025 1:15 PM Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Brief Filed Apr 1, 2025 10:10 AM Notice - Outgoing
Brief - Appellant's Opening Apr 1, 2025 9:01 AM Appellant Opening Brief
Notice - Incoming - Appearance - Britt Cotter - Contract Counsel for the Appellant Mar 18, 2025 1:00 PM Notice - Incoming
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including April 14, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief Feb 6, 2025 3:43 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief Feb 6, 2025 10:21 AM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including February 13, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Jan 6, 2025 2:53 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Jan 6, 2025 10:02 AM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including January 13, 2025, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Dec 4, 2024 4:49 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - (OPENING) Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Dec 3, 2024 11:55 AM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including December 13, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Nov 6, 2024 8:02 AM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - (Opening) Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Nov 4, 2024 3:36 PM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including November 13, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief Oct 3, 2024 1:32 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - (OPENING) Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Oct 2, 2024 12:17 PM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including October 14, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Sep 9, 2024 12:01 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Sep 6, 2024 11:29 PM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including September 13, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief on appeal Aug 9, 2024 12:01 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - (OPENING) Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension Aug 9, 2024 9:16 AM Motion
Order - Appellant is granted an extension of time to and including August 14, 2024, within which to prepare, file, and serve Appellant's opening brief Jul 9, 2024 1:13 PM Order - Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Motion and Affidavit for Second or Subsequent Extension - Appellant's Opening Brief Jul 8, 2024 3:57 PM Motion
Extension - Appellant is given an extension of time until July 15, 2024, to prepare, file, and serve the Appellant's opening brief Jun 5, 2024 3:33 PM Extension
Motion - Unopposed - Appellant's Extension of Time - Brief (First Request 30 Days) Jun 5, 2024 1:34 PM Motion
Notice - Outgoing - Transcript Filed May 15, 2024 3:38 PM Transcript
Record - Electronic Transcript Filed for Cause No. DC-22-242 of 03/20/2023, 03/27/2023, 04/17/2023, 08/21/2023, 11/28/2023 & 02/26/2024 hearings May 15, 2024 3:07 PM Record
Notice - Outgoing - Exhibits Filed Apr 24, 2024 2:11 PM Notice - Outgoing
Record - Exhibits Filed for Cause No. DC-22-242 consisting of one (1) large envelope of exhibits Apr 24, 2024 2:10 PM Record
Notice - Outgoing - District Court Record Filed Apr 22, 2024 9:00 AM Record
Record - DC Record Filed for Cause BDC 22-0242 electronic records consisting of 1-130 and Case Register Apr 22, 2024 8:54 AM Record
Notice - Incoming - Transcripts Deemed Necessary Apr 3, 2024 11:03 AM Notice - Incoming
Notice - Outgoing - Appeal Notice Apr 3, 2024 9:10 AM Notice - Outgoing
Notice of Appeal Filed Apr 3, 2024 8:55 AM Notice