Case Title: In re Ark. R. Crim. P.

Citation: 2012 Ark. 83

Docket Number: 

State: arkansas

Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

Date: 2012-02-23T00:00:00Z

Document:
Cite as 2012 Ark. 83 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS IN RE ARKANSAS RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Opinion Delivered February 23, 2012 PER CURIAM The Supreme Court Committee on Criminal Practice submitted proposed rule changes that we published for comment. In re Supreme Court Committee on Criminal Practice – Proposed Rule Changes, 2011 Ark. 499 (per curiam). The comment period has concluded, and we thank everyone who reviewed the proposed rules and submitted comments. We also again express our gratitude to the members of the Criminal Practice Committee for their work. Today, we adopt amendments to Rules 5.3, 5.4, and 24.3, including the Conditional Plea Form, as set out below, and republish them. These amendments shall be effective April 1, 2012. Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 5.3. Form of citation. (a) Every citation issued to a person shall: (i) be in writing; (ii) state the name of the officer issuing it with the title of his office; (iii) state the date of issuance and the municipality or county where issued; Cite as 2012 Ark. 83 (iv) specify the name of the accused and the offense alleged; (v) designate a time, place, and court for the appearance of the accused; and (vi) except in case of an electronic citation, provide a space for the signature of the accused acknowledging his promise to appear. (b) Every citation shall inform the accused that failure to appear at the stated time, place, and court may result in his arrest and shall constitute a separate offense for which he may be prosecuted. Reporter’s Notes, 2012 Amendment. Prior to the 2012 amendment, subsection (a)(ii) required the issuing officer to sign a citation. As amended, the subsection requires only that the citation state the name of the issuing officer. This change, as well as addition of the exception clause to subsection (a)(vi), was prompted by Act 908 of 2011, which authorizes the use of electronic citations. Rule 5.4. Procedure for issuing citations. (a) In issuing a citation the officer shall deliver one (1) copy of the citation to the accused. (b) The officer shall thereupon release the accused or, if the person appears mentally or physically unable to care for himself, take him to an appropriate medical facility. Cite as 2012 Ark. 83 (c) As soon as practicable, one (1) copy of the citation shall be filed with the court specified therein, and one (1) copy shall be delivered to the prosecuting attorney. If an electronic citation is issued, (i) either a written or electronic copy of the citation shall be filed with the court specified therein as designated by the clerk of that court, and (ii) either a written or electronic copy of the citation shall be delivered to the prosecuting attorney as designated by the prosecuting attorney. Reporter’s Notes, 2012 Amendment. The 2012 amendment added the final sentence of subsection (c). See Act 908 of 2011 authorizing the use of electronic citations. Rule 24.3. Pleading by defendant. (a) A plea of guilty or nolo contendere shall be received only from the defendant himself in open court, except that counsel may enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere on behalf of a defendant in misdemeanor cases where only a fine is imposed by the court. If the defendant is a corporation the plea may be received from counsel or an authorized corporate officer. (b) With the approval of the court and the consent of the prosecuting attorney, a defendant may enter a conditional plea of guilty or nolo contendere, reserving in writing the right, on appeal from the judgment, (i) to review an adverse determination of a pretrial motion to suppress seized evidence or a custodial statement; Cite as 2012 Ark. 83 (ii) to review an adverse determination of a pretrial motion to dismiss a charge because not brought to trial within the time provided in Rule 28.1 (b) or (c); or (iii) to review an adverse determination of a pretrial motion challenging the constitutionality of the statute defining the offense with which the defendant is charged. (c) A defendant may plead nolo contendere only with the consent of the court. The court shall not accept a plea of nolo contendere unless it is satisfied, after due consideration of the views of the parties, that the interest of the public in the effective administration of justice would thereby be served. (d) No plea of guilty or nolo contendere shall be accepted by any court unless the prosecuting attorney fo the governmental unit in which the offense occurred is given the opportunity to be heard at the time the plea is tendered. In any criminal case in which trial by jury is right, a court shall not accept a plea of guilty or nolo contendere unless the prosecuting attorney has assented to the waiver of trial by jury. Reporter’s Notes, 2012 Amendment. Prior to the 2012 amendments, subsection (a) allowed the court to take a guilty plea to a misdemeanor not involving imprisonment even though the defendant was not present in the courtroom. The 2012 amendment made it clear that the court could also accept a plea of nolo contendere in such circumstances. A plea of guilty or Cite as 2012 Ark. 83 nolo contendere when the defendant is absent is still subject to the requirements of subsections (c) and (d). The 2012 amendment also broadened conditional pleas to include subsection (b)(iii). CONDITIONAL PLEA FORM [For use with Rule 24.3(b), Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure] Cite as 2012 Ark. 83 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ______________, ARKANSAS _________Division No. _____________ STATE OF ARKANSAS v. _____________________________, Defendant CONDITIONAL PLEA I, _____________________________ (name of defendant), with the approval of the court, and the consent of the Prosecuting Attorney am entering a plea of [guilty] [no contest] to Count 1. ____________________________________________________________ Count 2. ____________________________________________________________ Count 3. ____________________________________________________________ I understand my plea is conditioned upon the filing of an appeal on the issue of_____________________ (describe [motion to suppress seized evidence] [motion to suppress custodial statement] [motion to dismiss a charge because not brought to trial within the time provided in Rule 28.1 (b) or (c)] or [challenge to the constitutionality of Ark. Code Ann. §_____] upon which appeal will be based.) I understand that, if the judge approves my plea of [guilty] [no contest], a judgment and sentence will be entered, and that I may appeal on the issue specified above in the manner provided by the rules of court. I understand that if I win my appeal on the issue specified above, that I may withdraw my plea of [guilty] [no contest]. I have read and understand the above. I have discussed the case and my constitutional rights with my lawyer. I understand that by pleading [guilty] [no contest], if my plea is not later withdrawn, I will be giving up my right to a trial by jury, to confront, cross-examine, and compel the attendance of witnesses, and my privilege against self-incrimination. I agree to enter my plea as indicated above on the terms and conditions set forth herein. _____________________ _____________________________ Date Defendant DEFENSE COUNSEL REVIEW I have reviewed this conditional plea with my client, and I have discussed with my client its consequences. _____________________ ____________________________ Defense Counsel Date Cite as 2012 Ark. 83 PROSECUTOR APPROVAL I have reviewed this conditional plea and consent to it. _____________________ ____________________________ Prosecutor Attorney Date COURT APPROVAL This Conditional Plea Agreement is approved, and I direct that it be entered of record in this case. ____________________________ Circuit Judge ____________________________ Date This Conditional Plea Form shall accompany the Sentencing Order and be made a part of the record in the case. I certify this is a true and correct record of this Court. Date:__________________ Circuit Clerk/Deputy: __________________