Justia Arkansas Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of two counts of capital murder and sentenced to death. After the Supreme Court affirmed, Appellant filed a petition for postconviction relief pursuant to Ark. R. Crim. P. 37.5. The circuit court denied the petition. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the circuit court failed to make specific written findings of fact and conclusions of law as required under Rule 37.5. Remanded for the entry of a written order containing factual findings and legal conclusions as to those issues raised on appeal in compliance with Rule 37.5 and the Court's holding in Echols v. State. View "Decay v. State" on Justia Law

In 1999, Appellant pleaded guilty to multiple felony offenses and was sentenced to 564 months' imprisonment. In 2012, Appellant filed a pro se petition to correct an illegal sentence, contending that, inter alia, he was denied his due-process and equal-protection rights, and he was not afforded effective assistance of counsel. After holding that the petition amounted to an untimely petition for postconviction relief, the trial court denied the petition. Appellant lodged an appeal and sought leave to file a belated brief-in-chief. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and declared the motion moot, holding (1) most of Appellant's claims were cognizable in a Ark. R. Crim. P. 37.1 petition; (2) to the extent that any of Appellant's claims were not cognizable under Rule 37.1, the claims did not allege the type of error required to support a claim of an illegal sentence; and (3) Appellant's petition was untimely filed under either Rule 37.1 or Ark. Code Ann. 16-90-111. View "Davis v. State" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Petitioner was convicted of aggravated robbery and theft of property in the armed robbery of two bank employees as they were filling an ATM machine. Petitioner subsequently filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking to have jurisdiction reinvested in the trial court to consider a a petition for writ of error coram nobis. As grounds for the writ, Petitioner alleged that the prosecution wrongfully withheld information from the defense that could have been used to impeach the victims' testimony that Petitioner was the perpetrator. The Supreme Court denied the petition, as (1) Petitioner failed to establish a Brady v. Maryland violation; and (2) Petitioner did not act with diligence in bringing his claims. View "Burks v. State" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of capital murder and aggravated robbery. Defendant appealed, arguing, inter alia, that his sentence of life without parole violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Ark. Const. art. II, 9 because he was a juvenile at the time of the offense. The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions and sentence. Thereafter, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Court's original judgment and remanded for further consideration in light of its decision in Miller v. Alabama, which held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits a sentencing scheme that mandates life in prison without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders in homicide cases. On remand, the Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part, holding (1) Defendant's capital-murder sentence should be reversed and remanded for resentencing under the discretionary range for a Class Y felony, and a sentencing hearing should be held in which Defendant may present any mitigating evidence as provided in Miller; and (2) Defendant's sentences for aggravated robbery, as well as his sentence enhancement for the use of a firearm, were still valid. View "Whiteside v. State" on Justia Law

Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced as a habitual offender to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction and sentence. Defendant subsequently filed a petition for postconviction relief, alleging that his attorney, without consulting him, changed the trial strategy from arguing justification to arguing reasonable doubt that he was the killer, and at the same time, denied him his constitutional right to testify. The circuit court denied the petition, concluding that Defendant was wrongfully denied his right to testify and to pursue a justification defense, but the errors were harmless. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the circuit court did not clearly err when it found Defendant failed to show there was a reasonable probability that the fact-finder's decision would have been different absent counsel's errors. View "White v. State" on Justia Law

After a trial, Appellant was convicted of two counts of rape. Appellant subsequently filed a timely petition for postconviction relief. On the same day, Appellant filed a memorandum of law in support of the petition. In the petitions, Appellant presented three grounds for relief and additionally alleged he was entitled to an evidentiary hearing. The trial court treated the two pleadings as separate petitions and denied them without a hearing. Before the Supreme Court was Appellant's motion requesting an extension of time in which to file his brief. The Court dismissed the appeal and declared the motion moot, holding that the allegations in Appellant's petitions were without merit. View "Thompson v. State" on Justia Law

Appellee contracted with the Arkansas Department of Career Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services (ARS) to provide psychological and other services. Appellee contacted the United States Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to report his belief that federal funds were being illegally used. A few days later, ARS terminated Appellee's services. Thereafter, Appellee filed the instant action pursuant to the Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act, alleging that he was terminated as a result of his report to the OIG. After a jury trial, the circuit court entered judgment in favor of Appellee, awarding damages of $110,452. Finding no error, the Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the circuit court did not err (1) in ruling Appellee was a "public employee" as a matter of law; (2) in denying ARS's motion for a directed verdict on the ground that Appellee failed to report his allegations to an "appropriate authority"; (3) in instructing the jury on mitigation of damages; and (4) in denying ARS's motion for new trial or, alternatively, remittitur. View "State Dep't of Career Educ. v. Means" on Justia Law

Booker T. Washington, Jr. filed a claim against Porocel Corporation with the Workers' Compensation Commission, alleging exposure to asbestos and silica dust resulting in lung disease and silicosis. An ALJ found Washington's claim was barred by the statute of limitations. Washington subsequently filed suit against Porocel, alleging, inter alia, negligence and breach of implied warranty. Porocel moved to dismiss the complaint, contending that the Commission had exclusive jurisdiction of the claims alleged and that the Arkansas Workers Compensation Act (Act) was Washington's exclusive remedy. The circuit court denied Porocel's motion to dismiss, concluding that Washington's occupational disease was not one for which the Act provided coverage. Porocel then filed a petition for a writ of prohibition to prevent the circuit court from exercising jurisdiction over Washington's complaint. The Supreme Court granted the petition, holding that Washington's claim was covered by the Act. View "Porocel Corp. v. Circuit Court" on Justia Law

Petitioner entered a guilty plea to battery in the second degree and was sentenced to sixty months' imprisonment. Petitioner subsequently filed a timely pro se petition for postconviction relief, which the trial court denied. Petitioner failed to timely appeal but later sought leave to proceed with a belated appeal of the order, contending that the circuit court failed to send him a copy of the order denying his petition. The Supreme Court granted the motion, as nothing in the record suggested that Petitioner was properly notified that the order had been entered, and the State had not filed a response to Petitioner's motion to refute the allegations contained in it. View "Miller v. State" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of residential burglary and rape and sentenced to an aggregate term of fifteen years' imprisonment. Appellant's motion seeking leave to proceed with a belated appeal was denied. Thereafter, Appellant unsuccessfully filed a pro se motion for a transcript of his trial at public expense. Defendant's appeal of the denial of that motion and his motion for reconsideration were both denied. Appellant then filed a second amended notice of appeal designating the order that denied the motion for transcript and the order that denied the motion for reconsideration. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and declared the motion related to that appeal moot, holding that Appellant failed to show the transcript should be provided to him at no cost, and therefore, the trial court did not err in its judgment. View "Koontz v. State" on Justia Law