Montana Code Annotated 1999

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Title 25, Chapter 21 -- RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE


     Rule 10. Transmission of the record.
     (a) Time for transmission -- number of copies of transcript -- duty of appellant. The record on appeal, including the transcript necessary for the determination of the appeal, shall be transmitted to the supreme court within 40 days after the filing of the notice of appeal unless the time is shortened or extended by an order entered under subdivision (c) of this rule or unless a stipulation holding the time requirements of these Rules in abeyance is filed with the clerks of the supreme court and the district court pursuant to Rule 54(c). Three copies of each transcript must be lodged with the clerk of this court for filing. Promptly after filing the notice of appeal the appellant shall comply with the provisions of Rule 9(b) and shall take any other action necessary to enable the clerk to assemble and transmit the record. If more than one appeal is filed, each appellant shall comply with the provisions of Rule 9(b) and this subdivision, and a single record shall be transmitted within 40 days after the filing of the final notice of appeal.
     (b) Duty of clerk to transmit the record. When the record is complete for purposes of the appeal, the clerk of the district court shall transmit it to the clerk of the supreme court. The clerk shall number the documents comprising the record and shall transmit with the record a numbered list of the documents, identifying each with reasonable definiteness. Documents in bulky containers shall not be transmitted by the clerk unless the clerk is directed to do so by a party or by the clerk of the supreme court. Physical exhibits other than documents or photographs shall not be transmitted by the clerk unless the clerk is ordered to do so by the supreme court. A party that desires a physical exhibit to be transmitted shall file a motion with the supreme court and serve it upon all appellate counsel and the clerk of the supreme court. The motion shall describe the nature of the exhibit, the reason it should be transmitted, and whether any measures should be taken to provide for security or to protect the chain of custody. A party must make advance arrangements with the clerk of the district court for the transportation of bulky or weighty exhibits and with the clerk of the supreme court for their receipt. Transmission of the record is effected when the clerk of the district court mails or otherwise forwards the record to the supreme court. The clerk of the district court shall indicate, by endorsement on the face of the record or otherwise, the date upon which it is transmitted to the supreme court.
     (c) Extension of time for transmission of the record -- reduction of time. The district court may extend the time for transmitting the record. The request for extension must be made within the time originally prescribed or within an extension previously granted, and the district court shall not extend the time to a day more than 90 days from the date of filing of the first notice of appeal. If the district court is without authority to grant the relief sought or has denied a request therefor, the supreme court may on motion extend the time for transmitting the record or may permit the record to be transmitted and filed after the expiration of the time allowed or fixed. A motion for an extension of time for transmitting the record made in either court shall show that the inability of the appellant to cause timely transmission of the record is due to causes beyond the appellant's control or to circumstances which may be deemed excusable neglect. Such a motion shall be served upon all other parties to the appeal or review or upon their counsel if represented by such and also upon the district court judge who presided. The motion shall include whether or not previous extensions of time have been granted and if so, the total amount of time extended. If a request has previously been denied, the motion shall set forth the denial and state the reasons therefor, if any were given.
     The district court or the supreme court may require the record to be transmitted and the appeal to be docketed at any time within the time otherwise fixed or allowed therefor.
     (d) Retention of the record in the district court by order of court. The supreme court may provide by rule or order that a certified copy of the docket entries shall be transmitted in lieu of the entire record, subject to the right of any party to request at any time during the pendency of the appeal that designated parts of the record be transmitted.
     If the record is required in the district court for use there pending the appeal, the district court may make an order to that effect, and the clerk of the district court shall retain the record and shall transmit a copy of the order and of the docket entries together with such parts of the original record as the district court shall allow and copies of such parts as the parties may designate.
     If the record is retained in the district court by order of either court, the clerk of the district court shall retain it subject to the order of the supreme court, and transmission of the copy of the docket entries shall constitute transmission of the record.
     (e) Stipulation of parties that parts of the record be retained in the district court. The parties may agree by written stipulation filed in the district court that designated parts of the record shall be retained in the district court unless thereafter the supreme court shall order or any party shall request their transmittal. The parts thus designated shall nevertheless be a part of the record on appeal for all purposes.
     (f) Record for preliminary hearing in the supreme court. If prior to the time the record is transmitted a party desires to make in the supreme court a motion for dismissal, for a stay pending appeal, for additional security on the undertaking on appeal or on a supersedeas bond, or for any intermediate order, the clerk of the district court at the request of any party shall transmit to the supreme court such parts of the original record as the party shall designate.

     History: En. Sup. Ct. Ord. 11020, Dec. 10, 1965, eff. Jan. 1, 1966; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. 10750, June 30, 1981; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. June 16, 1986, eff. Jan. 19, 1987; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. Sept. 1, 1988, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. May 1, 1990, eff. May 1, 1990; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. June 20, 1990, eff. June 20, 1990; amd. Sup. Ct. Ord. 95-300, April 15, 1996, eff. Oct. 1, 1996.

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