DECISION

{1 Vear LeRoy Brooks filed a notice of appeal in the above captioned case. This is before the court on its own motion for summary disposition based on lack of jurisdiction due to the absence of a final order.

1 2 Generally, an appeal may be taken only from a final order or judgment. See Utah R.App. P. 8(a); Bradbury v. Valencia, 2000 UT 50, ¶ 9, 5 P.3d 649. For an order to be final, it must dispose of the subject matter of the case, leaving nothing else to be decided. See Bradbury, 2000 UT 50, ¶ 9, 5 P.3d 649. An appeal is improper if not taken from a final order or judgment. See id. Where an appeal is not properly taken, this court lacks jurisdiction and must dismiss it. See id. ¶ 8.

T3 This case originated in the trial court when Brooks filed a petition for postconvietion relief, In response to his amended petition, the State filed a motion to dismiss. This matter remains pending in the trial court. There is no final order for Brooks to appeal. Therefore, this court lacks jurisdiction over the appeal and must dismiss it. See id.

14 Accordingly, this appeal is dismissed without prejudice to the filing of a timely notice of appeal after the entry of a final order.