08/05/2020
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
Case Number: DA 20-0129
DA 20-0129
SHANE PHILLIP NICKERSON,
Petitioner and Appellant,
v. ORDER
STATE OF MONTANA, FILE
Respondent and Appellee. AUG 0 5 2020
Bovven Greenwood
Clerk of Supreme Court
State of Montana
Representing himself, Appellant Shane Phillip Nickerson has filed a Subpoena
Duces Tecum, requesting copies of incident reports, and a Motion for an Order of
Protection from MSP Staff and Inmates. He argues that the incident reports are "a key
piece of evidence to all of[his] arguments." He further requests that this Court "order the
prison to protect [him]," because he does not want to be transferred, while he exhausts all
court proceedings.
This Court cannot assist Nickerson. In light of his filed requests, this Court does
not have authority over the Montana State Prison, nor do we issue subpoenas or orders of
protection as a district court does because we operate as an appellate court of review.
Compare M. R. App. P. 1(2), with M. R. Civ. P. 45 and § 40-15-102, MCA. Nickerson's
relief may be found through the Department of Corrections Grievance Policy. See
Offender Grievance Program, DOC Policy 3.3.3.
This Court reviews the record and finaljudgment in an appeal, such as Nickerson's.
The Flathead County District Court record was filed on April 10, 2020. We observe that
Nickerson is appealing the District Court's dismissal of his petition for postconviction
relief. We point out that Nickerson's recent requests come seven months after the
December 30, 2019 District Court Order. Moreover, Nickerson does not provide any
argument about how his requests relate to his instant appeal of a court's decision.
We remind Nickerson that he has until September 1, 2020 to file his response to the
State of Montana's Motion to Dismiss. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Nickerson's Subpoena Duces Tecum and Motion for an Order
ofProtection form MSP Staff and Inmates are both DENIED.
The Clerk ofthe Supreme Court is directed to provide a copy ofthis Order to counsel
of record and to Shane Phillip Nickerson personally.
DATED this —day of August, 2020.
For the Court,
Chief Justice
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