Justia Civil Rights Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of certiorari and/or prohibition requesting relief from the Court after the circuit court denied Petitioner's motions to dismiss the charges against him, holding that an extraordinary writ was not necessary in this case.Petitioner, who was charged with aggravated robbery and other charges, moved to dismiss the charges for a violation of his right to a speedy trial pursuant to Ark. R. Crim. P. 28.1, asserting that he was not brought to trial within twelve months from the date of his arrest. Petitioner also filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, alleging that the juvenile division retained exclusive jurisdiction. The circuit court denied both motions. The Supreme Court denied Petitioner's ensuing petition for writ of certiorari and/or prohibition, holding that the circuit court did not err in denying Petitioner's motions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and for violation of his speedy-trial rights. View "Tilson v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction of capital murder and sentence of life imprisonment without parole, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief on his allegations of error.On appeal, Defendant argued, among other things, that the trial court's failure to instruct the jury with the model verdict form on dispute accomplice status was reversible error under the third and fourth exceptions enumerated in Wicks v. State, 606 S.W.2d 366 (Ark. 1980). The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the trial court did not err in denying Defendant's motion to suppress evidence obtained during a search of his property; and (2) neither Wicks exception to the objection requirement applied under the circumstances of this case. View "Nowell v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the circuit court denying Petitioner's petition for writ of mandamus or other supervisory writ, granting a motion for judgment on the pleadings filed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and its director (collectively, AGFC) and dismissing Petitioner's complaint for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief, holding that there was no error.Petitioner brought this complaint seeking a declaration that holders of an Enhanced Concealed Carry License (ECCL) may carry concealed firearms in AGFC buildings and facilities, a declaration that AGFC illegally refused to permit his entrance, and an injunction prohibiting AGFC from denying ECCL holders entrance into AGFC buildings with firearms. The circuit court denied relief. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the circuit court properly denied Petitioner's motion for summary judgment and granted AGFC's motion for judgment on the pleadings. View "Corbitt v. Ark. Game & Fish Comm'n" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the circuit court admitting two 911 calls reporting a shooting and a dash cam video containing statements from an eyewitness during Defendant's criminal trial, holding that any error was harmless.After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree battery, and other crimes. After he was sentenced to life imprisonment plus fifteen years, Defendant filed a motion for a mistrial, which was deemed denied. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the circuit court properly ruled that the statements from the 911 calls were nontestimonial and thus admissible; (2) the circuit court erred in admitting the dash cam video, but the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt; and (3) Defendant's final two arguments were not preserved for appellate review. View "McNeil-Lewis v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the circuit court convicting Appellant of first-degree murder and other crimes and sentencing him to an aggregate term of two life sentences plus 835 years' imprisonment, holding that the State failed to demonstrate that Appellant was brought to trial within the twelve-month period required by Ark. R. Crim. P. 28.1(b).At issue on appeal was whether Appellant's constitutional right to a speedy trial, as embodied in Ark. R. Crim. P. 28.1, was violated when the State failed to bring him to trial within twelve months of the date of his arrest. The Supreme Court concluded that Appellant's right was indeed violated because he was held for a total of 405 days during which the speedy trial was not tolled, a total that exceeded the requisite 365-day period. View "Parker v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part the circuit court's order dismissing Appellant's appeal from the district court absent a conviction as required by Ark. R. Crim. P. 36(a), holding that the district court illegally imposed court costs and probation in violation of Appellant's state and federal constitutional due process rights and his federal and state constitutional right to a trial.Appellant pled guilty to carrying a weapon in a publicly owned building. The district court ordered Appellant to pay court costs of $140 and told Appellant if there were no further charges within thirty days the charge would be dismissed. The court dismissed the case at the end of thirty days for lack of jurisdiction on the grounds that there was no underlying conviction. The Supreme Court reversed in part, holding that the court had jurisdiction to hear Appellant's challenge to the legality of his de facto sentence, and Appellant should have been heard on the merits. View "Gillette v. City of Fort Smith" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the circuit court denying Appellant's complaint for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief and petition for writ of mandamus seeking to direct Appellees to allow Appellant to carry a firearm inside the district court, holding that there was no error.Appellant, an attorney, filed a complaint for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief seeking a declaration that Act 1087 of 2017, codified at Ark. Code Ann. 5-73-122(b), authorizes attorneys as "officers of the court" to carry a firearm in any of the state's courts or courthouses and a declaration that Appellees' conduct in refusing to allow Appellant to enter the Pulaski County District Courthouse with a firearm violated Arkansas law. Appellant further sought mandamus relief asking that the court direct Defendants to permit attorneys in court with a firearm. The circuit court denied relief. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the circuit court did not err in denying Appellant's mandamus petition. View "Corbitt v. Pulaski County Jail" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the circuit court entering judgment upon a jury verdict finding Defendant guilty of rape and sentencing him to life in prison, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief on his allegations of error.On appeal, Defendant argued, among other things, that the State intentionally circumvented his right to confront vital witnesses by improperly allowing into evidence a surreptitious recording made by Defendant's roommate and that the recording contained inadmissible hearsay. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) there was sufficient evidence to support the rape conviction; and (2) the circuit court did not err in admitting the recording into evidence. View "Wallace v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court denying Petitioner's petition for writ of habeas corpus, holding that Petitioner's statutory and constitutional claims did not raise jurisdictional issues that entitled him to habeas relief.Petitioner was convicted of capital murder and first-degree battery and sentenced to a life sentence plus consecutive twenty-four sentences. The Supreme Court affirmed on direct appeal. Petitioner later brought this petition alleging that he was not named in the body of the criminal information and that he was not identified in the document, and therefore, the trial court lacked jurisdiction over him. The circuit court denied the habeas corpus petition. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the trial court had personal and subject-matter jurisdiction over Petitioner. View "Lee v. Payne" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court vacated the order of the circuit court declaring Act 1002 of 2021 to be unconstitutional and permanently enjoining its enforcement, holding that the circuit court did not have subject matter jurisdiction to enter the order.The Act, codified at Ark. Code Ann. 20-7-144, prohibited state agencies, political subdivisions of the state, and local and state officials from mandating the use of face masks, face shields, or other face coverings. Two lawsuits were filed seeking to declare the Act unconstitutional and enjoin its enforcement. The circuit court consolidated the cases, enjoined enforcement of the Act, and preliminary declared the Act unconstitutional in violation of the separation of powers and equal protection clauses of the state Constitution. The Supreme Court vacated the order below, holding that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to enter the final order because an interlocutory appeal was still pending. View "State v. McClane" on Justia Law