The Mineral County Attorney's Office filed a verified update and motion to stay proceedings with the court regarding a previous court order. The update provides information on the office's compliance with items in the previous order, including disclosing Brady information, investigating evidence, auditing closed cases, and only disclosing confidential information to those authorized. The motion requests a stay of further proceedings to allow additional time to complete investigations, implement policy changes, and determine if an answer is required in the matter.
The Mineral County Attorney's Office filed a verified update and motion to stay proceedings with the court regarding a previous court order. The update provides information on the office's compliance with items in the previous order, including disclosing Brady information, investigating evidence, auditing closed cases, and only disclosing confidential information to those authorized. The motion requests a stay of further proceedings to allow additional time to complete investigations, implement policy changes, and determine if an answer is required in the matter.
The Mineral County Attorney's Office filed a verified update and motion to stay proceedings with the court regarding a previous court order. The update provides information on the office's compliance with items in the previous order, including disclosing Brady information, investigating evidence, auditing closed cases, and only disclosing confidential information to those authorized. The motion requests a stay of further proceedings to allow additional time to complete investigations, implement policy changes, and determine if an answer is required in the matter.
2 P.O. Box 339 3 Superior, MT 59872 (406) 822-3535 4 Fax 822-3822 5 6 7 MONTANA FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT 8 MINERAL COUNTY 9 10 RITA ANDERSON, et al. ) Dept. No. 5 11 ) Petitioners, ) Cause No. DV-31-2022-53 12 vs. ) Related Case: DV-31-2022-54 13 ) MINERAL COUNTY ATTORNEY, ) VERIFIED UPDATE TO THE 14 Respondent. ) COURT AND MOTION AND 15 ) BRIEF TO STAY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT 16 TO RULE 60 MRCP 17 COMES NOW, the Mineral County Attorney, Debra A. Jackson, 18 Respondent, appears by and through counsel, Civil Deputy Walter E. 19 20 Congdon, who provides this Notice to the Court related to the Order of 21 October 10, 2022. 22 In respect to the Order on page 4 of the Writ, of October 10, 2022, 23 the Court is advised as follows: 24 1. Respondent has complied with item 4 of the Order [Disclose 25 all Brady information in all open cases] and commenced doing so on June 26 8, 2022, and is doing so on an ongoing basis. 27 28 2. In respect to item 1 of the Order [Investigate any evidence 29 favorable to defendants as it is known to others acting on the 30 government’s behalf] we are investigating Petitioners’ Affiants and their 1 source of information. Ongoing efforts have also commenced revising 2 hiring practices, regarding all law enforcement and justice employees. 3 This includes revisions to the employee policy and procedure manuals for 4 Mineral County, including the Sheriff’s office. The investigation pursuant 5 to item 1 of the Order also involves emails from the prior County Attorney, 6 Ellen Donohue and it has been determined that Petitioners’ attorney, 7 Lance Jasper, was involved in discussions for more than six months prior 8 9 to May 13, 2022. A copy of those e-mails found to date is attached. We 10 will disclose more as we find them in coming weeks. 11 3. In respect to Item 2 of the Order [Audit all closed cases] we 12 have completed an audit of those cases that came to the County 13 Attorney’s Office and will provide that list to this Court from Justice and 14 District Court’s, open and closed cases, which also includes pro se 15 defendants. 16 17 4. Respondent requests that Item 3 of the Order [Send all Brady 18 information to defendants affected and their attorneys] be amended to 19 provide that disclosure to the attorneys is adequate as we cannot contact 20 the Defendants directly unless they were pro se. 21 5. In respect to Item 5 of the Order [Only Disclose Confidential 22 Criminal Justice Information (CCJI) to those entitled by law to receive it] 23 Respondent has not disseminated CCJI to anyone not entitled to the 24 25 information. The disclosure to Gretchen Webb was clerical only and was 26 not a disclosure as it was completed and approved per the attached 27 Exhibit dated May 14, 2022. We are investigating the disclosure Mr. 28 Jasper cited in his email to Petitioners and will provide the Court with the 29 same. 30 1 6. An investigation by questioning Mr. Jasper and Ms. Kilby is 2 needed per paragraph 1 and paragraph 5 of the Order to determine who 3 disclosed information to them, when, and where, and to determine if it is 4 relevant to other defendant’s defense. 5 7. The Affiant, Debra Jackson also notes that there are 6 significant questions of law and fact relied by the Petition, and a stay will 7 also allow time to further investigate and answer those issues. 8 9 Respondent also notes that Judge Marks’ Order, attached hereto, 10 indicates the Brady obligation is ongoing and compliance was moot prior 11 to this proceeding as Mineral County had done so. Respondent is 12 complying with the Court’s Order of October 10, 2022, and requests that it 13 note the ongoing nature of the obligation. 14 Respondent also requests a stay of further proceedings in Court to 15 allow time for additional discovery of any conflicts or deficiencies in the 16 17 system to identify information that needs disclosure and sources 18 disseminating confidential information. 19 A stay of an Order is allowed pursuant to Rule 60 of the Montana 20 Rules of Civil Procedure, and this will allow time to complete and 21 implement changes in progress including: 22 1. Complete discussions by Mr. Jasper and Ms. Kilby of the 23 individuals that told them confidential criminal justice information. 24 25 2. Allow completion of the employee manual for hiring and 26 recruitment with adoption by the Commissioners. 27 3. Allow completion of the investigation offered prior to this 28 process in the letters sent to Mr. Jasper prior to this proceeding. 29 4. Allow completion of any external investigation of officers and 30 disclosure of any relevant information to defendants as it is found. 1 5. Complete the disclosure of information to attorneys and pro se 2 defendant in closed cases. 3 6. This will also allow time to determine if an answer is needed in 4 this proceeding and to schedule a trial and set aside significant time 5 needed to determine if the issue has become moot as Judge Marks has 6 indicated. 7 7. Respondent has not waived Rule 12 and Rule 4 defenses 8 9 regarding jurisdiction and process and any other defenses allowed by law 10 if it is determined that an answer and further court proceeding is 11 necessary. 12 DATED this 25th day of October, 2022. 13 14 _______________________________________ 15 Walter E. Congdon, Civil Deputy for Respondent 16 17 STATE OF MONTANA ) 18 :ss 19 County of Mineral ) 20 I, DEBRA A. JACKSON, being first duly sworn, state that the facts 21 22 and allegations contained in the Rule 16 Motion and Brief are true and 23 correct to the best of my knowledge. 24 1. That my name is Debra A. Jackson. 25 2. That I am over 18 years of age and competent. 26 3. I am the Mineral County Attorney for Montana. 27 4. That the facts and matters contained in the Verified Rule 16 Motion 28 and Brief are true and correct to the best of my personal knowledge, 29 30 opinion, and belief. 1 5. I am submitting this Affidavit in support of my application for a 2 Scheduling Order. 3 Further affiant sayeth naught. 4 DATED this 25th day of October, 2022. 5 6 __________________________ 7 DEBRA A. JACKSON 8 Mineral County Attorney 9 10 STATE OF MONTANA ) 11 :ss 12 County of Mineral ) 13 SIGNED AND SWORN TO before me on this 25th day of October, 14 2022, by DEBRA A. JACKSON. 15 16 17 18 _______________________________ 19 Gloria Dominguez Notary Public for the State of Montana 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30