Justia Civil Rights Opinion Summaries

In 2011, the State filed a petition to remove Sheriff Kenny Cassell from office, alleging that Cassell had pled guilty in 1979 to a violation of 18 U.S.C. 659, that Cassell had committed the crime while serving as a deputy sheriff, that Cassell acknowledged the conviction, that Cassell was elected sheriff in 2010, and that, under the Arkansas Constitution, Cassell was barred from holding office. The circuit court granted summary judgment for Cassell, concluding that Cassell's crime was for theft by receiving, and although the crime involved dishonesty, the theft conviction was not sufficient for removal because it did not impugn the integrity of the office or directly impact Cassell's ability to serve as an elected official. The State appealed. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the offense was an "infamous crime" under Ark. Const. art. V, 9 because it involved dishonesty; and (2) the circuit court erroneously determined that Cassell's theft conviction alone was not enough to require removal without some proof that the conviction impugned the integrity of the elected office or directly impacted Cassell's ability to serve. View "State v. Cassell" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of capital murder and aggravated robbery and sentenced to death and life imprisonment, respectively. The Supreme Court affirmed. Appellant subsequently filed a petition for postconviction relief pursuant to Ark. R. Crim. P. 37.5, arguing ineffective assistance of counsel. The circuit court denied the petition after a hearing. Appellant appealed, arguing that the circuit court erred in finding Appellant's counsel provided effective assistance. 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(i). Remanded for entry of a written order in compliance with Rule 37.5(i). View "Sales v. State" on Justia Law

After a trial, Appellant was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and possession of marijuana. Appellant subsequently filed a timely pro se petition seeking postconviction relief, asserting that his counsel provided ineffective assistance during trial. The trial court denied the petition, and the court of appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court affirmed the order denying postconviction relief, holding (1) Appellant failed to demonstrate clear error in the trial court's ruling regarding some of his points on appeal; (2) other issues raised by Appellant were not properly preserved for appellate review; and (3) the trial court's ordered complied with Ark. R. Crim. P. 37.3. View "Hogan v. State" on Justia Law

Appellant was charged by felony information with two counts of rape and one count of robbery. After the jury deadlocked, the circuit court declared a mistrial. Prior to the retrial, Defendant filed a motion to dismiss, asserting that the circuit court erred in declaring a mistrial and that retrying him would constitute double jeopardy. The circuit cout denied the motion. Defendant filed an interlocutory appeal. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) under the totality of the circumstances, the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in declaring a mistrial on the grounds that the jury was deadlocked; and (2) the circuit court erred in sending the bailiff into the jury chambers without counsel, but the court did not err in denying Appellant's motion to dismiss on these grounds, as the proper remedy was a new trial, which Defendant was to receive. View "Gold v. State" on Justia Law

After a bench trial, the circuit court convicted Defendant of aggravated assault on a family or household member. The court also determined that a child was present during the commission of the offense. The sentencing order imposed an enhancement for committing the offense in the presence of a child. For the enhancement, the court sentenced Defendant to one year incarceration, suspended. The State appealed, contending that the circuit court imposed an illegal sentence by suspending the sentence for the enhancement. The Supreme Court reversed and remanded for resentencing, holding (1) jurisdiction of the State's appeal was properly in the Court; and (2) the circuit court lacked the authority to suspend the sentence for the enhancement. View "State v. Colvin" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of capital murder, battery in the first degree, and two counts of aggravated robbery. Appellant was sentenced to an aggregate sentence of life imprisonment. The Supreme Court affirmed. Appellant subsequently field a timely pro se petition for postconviction relief, contending that he was not afforded effective assistance of counsel at trial. Appellant raised five points on appeal. The trial court denied the petition. The Supreme Court affirmed after having considered all of the arguments raised by Appellant on appeal, holding that the circuit court did not err in its judgment. View "Norris v. State" on Justia Law

After a bench trial, Appellant was convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Defendant appealed, arguing that the circuit court erred in denying (1) his motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to an allegedly illegal detention, (2) evidence where the allegedly warrantless search of his vehicle was not reasonable, and (3) the custodial statement that allegedly violated his Miranda rights and the fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree doctrine. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the circuit court did not err in finding (1) the detention of Defendant was legal because the purpose of the legal traffic stop was ongoing; (2) law enforcement had sufficient probable cause to search Defendant's vehicle; and (3) the custodial statement was admissible where it was made after Miranda warnings that were clearly effective. View "Jackson v. State" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse and sentenced to life imprisonment. For his sole argument on appeal, Defendant contended that the circuit court erred in refusing his proffered alternative instruction to the standard instruction on lesser-included offenses, which he alleged would have allowed the jury to consider the lesser charge of extreme-emotional-disturbance manslaughter without first acquitting him of murder. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the circuit court was not without a rational basis for giving the manslaughter instruction and thus erred by not giving the proffered instruction. Remanded. View "Fincham v. State" on Justia Law

Appellant was convicted for theft of property and sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment. The judgment was not appealed. Appellant subsequently filed in the trial court a petition for reduction of sentence but did not contend her sentence was illegal. The court denied the petition. Appellant lodged an appeal. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that the trial court was constrained in its ability to grant relief because it was without jurisdiction to modify, amend, or revise a valid sentence once it has been put into execution, and because Appellant's sentence was put into execution when the trial court issued the sentencing order, the trial court was without authority to grant relief on Appellant's proposed bases. View "Denson v. State" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver. The court of appeals affirmed. Appellant filed a timely pro se petition for postconviction relief, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel, denial of due process, actual or constructive denial of counsel, and denial of a fair trial. The trial court denied the petition without a hearing. The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's denial of postconviction relief, holding that, based on the record and the petition, none of Appellant's claims in the petition were meritorious. View "Daniels v. State" on Justia Law