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                           IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA


                                                                No. 00-431


                                                               2001 MT 77

                                                           ______________


                                                      OPINION AND ORDER


                                                      STATE OF MONTANA)

                                                      Plaintiff and Respondent,

                                                                      v.

                                                 WILLIAM LESTER RARDON,

                                                      Defendant and Appellant.

                                                           ______________


¶ 1 The Defendant and Appellant in this action, William Lester Rardon, acting pro se, has
filed with this Court a document entitled "Appellant's Brief," in which he requests legal
counsel for purposes of this appeal. The State of Montana, through the Attorney General's
office, has filed a brief in response. Appellant's Brief is hereby deemed a motion for
appointment of counsel.

¶ 2 On March 18, 1997, the State of Montana charged Rardon by Information with one
count of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of sexual assault in the
Eleventh Judicial District, Flathead County. On June 12, 1997, Rardon pled guilty to one
count of sexual assault pursuant to a written plea agreement, and the remaining charges
were dismissed. The District Court entered judgment and sentence, and this Court
subsequently reversed and remanded for re-sentencing in State v. Rardon, 1999 MT 220,


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296 Mont. 19, 986 P.2d 424. On April 4, 2000, the Eleventh Judicial District Court
entered a second Judgment and Sentence against Rardon. On April 5, 2000, Rardon's court-
appointed attorney filed and served Rardon with a Notice of Entry of Judgment and Notice
of Termination of Attorney/Client Relationship, citing Rule 12(f), Eleventh Judicial
District Court Rules. There is no indication in the record whether the District Court
granted leave for Rardon's court-appointed attorney to withdraw as counsel or whether the
court appointed new counsel. On May 16, 2000, Rardon filed a pro se Notice of Appeal.
On July 18, 2000, this Court issued an order denying Rardon's request for appointment of
counsel, based upon the mistaken impression, gleaned from his pro se filings, that he was
already represented by counsel on appeal.

¶ 3 A criminal defendant has a constitutional right to counsel on a direct appeal. State v.
Black (1990), 245 Mont. 39, 798 P.2d 530. Rardon's appeal herein is made from his re-
sentencing in the District Court, ordered on remand by this Court in State v. Rardon,
supra, and thus, is a direct appeal for which he is entitled to counsel.

¶ 4 Section 46-8-103, MCA, requires that assigned counsel continue to represent a
defendant until final judgment, including any proceeding upon direct appeal to this Court,
unless relieved by order of the court that assigned counsel to the case. That obligation of
representation was not satisfied by the filing in the district court of a "Notice of
Termination of Attorney/Client Relationship" by Rardon's court-appointed counsel.

¶ 5 The Court notes that Rardon's "Appellant's Brief" appears to allege that he received
ineffective assistance of counsel during his re-sentencing by the District Court.
Consequently, assumption of representation by the Appellate Defender's Office in this
matter may be appropriate pursuant to § 46-8-212, MCA. Therefore,

¶ 6 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this cause is remanded to the Eleventh Judicial
District Court, Flathead County, for a determination of whether Rardon's court-appointed
counsel should be allowed to withdraw. If withdrawal is approved, the District Court shall
enter an order appointing other appropriate counsel to represent Rardon on his appeal. If
necessary, the District Court may determine whether Rardon remains eligible by way of
indigence for court-appointed counsel.

¶ 7 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that upon entry of such determination by the District
Court, Rardon shall have 30 days in which to file a new brief on appeal. Thereafter, all
briefing will continue pursuant to the Montana Rules of Appellate Procedure, and the State


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may supplement its brief in response to Appellant's brief if it elects to do so.

¶ 8 The Clerk of the Montana Supreme Court is directed to return the District Court file to
the Flathead County Clerk of Court solely for purposes of that court's determination of the
above issues. Immediately after the court enters an order concerning Rardon's appellate
counsel, the file shall be returned to the Clerk of this Court for continuation of this appeal.

¶ 9 The Clerk is further directed to provide copies of this Order to counsel of record; to the
Honorable Katherine R. Curtis, presiding judge; to Rardon personally the Montana State
Prison; and to the Office of the Appellate Defender.

DATED this 26th day of April, 2001.

                                                     /S/ KARLA M. GRAY

                                                            /S/ JIM RICE

                                              /S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART

                                                   /S/ PATRICIA COTTER

                                               /S/ TERRY N. TRIEWEILER

                                                        /S/ JIM REGNIER




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