Case Title: In Re: Pervis Michael Redden, Arkansas Bar ID # 74127

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Docket Number: 

State: arkansas

Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

Date: 2005-10-13T00:00:00Z

Document:
ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT No. 00-567 NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION IN RE PERVIS MICHAEL REDDEN, ARKANSAS BAR ID # 74127 Opinion Delivered October 13, 2005 PRO SE MOTION FOR PHOTOCOPIES AT PUBLIC EXPENSE [CIRCUIT COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY, CV 1999-2048] MOTION DENIED PER CURIAM Jerome Hernandez, the movant in this matter, is an inmate in the custody of the Arkansas Department of Correction. He has submitted to this court a request for copies of all materials concerning this disbarment proceeding, invoking the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-101 - 107 (Supp. 2003), and providing an affidavit to verify indigency in support of his request to provide the copies at public expense. He gives no reason for this request. Because movant Hernandez has offered nothing to demonstrate that photocopies of the materials on file with this court should be provided to him at no cost, we must deny the motion. The Freedom of Information Act does not require a court to provide photocopying of material on file at public expense. Moore v. State, 324 Ark. 453, 921 S.W.2d 606 (1996) (per curiam). Were this a request for a transcript of the appeal from movant Hernadez's conviction resulting in his incarceration, we would treat such a demand as a request for postconviction relief. See Williams v. State, 273 Ark. 315, 619 S.W.2d 628 (1981)(per curiam). Even so, a petitioner is not entitled to photocopying at public expense unless he demonstrates some compelling need for specific documentary evidence to support an allegation contained in a petition for postconviction relief. Moore, 324 Ark. at 454, 921 S.W.2d at 607. Indigency alone does not entitle a petitioner to free photocopying. Washington v. State, 270 Ark. 840, 606 S.W.2d 365 (1980)(per curiam). Movant Hernandez makes no reference to a need for documentary evidence to support an allegation in a post-conviction proceeding, or even that a post-conviction proceeding is available to him. It should be noted that when an original action has been filed in this court, the material pertaining to it remains permanently on file with the clerk, unless it is being maintained under seal. Persons may review the material in the clerk's office and photocopy all or portions of it. An incarcerated person desiring a photocopy of a material on file here may write this court, remit the photocopying fee, and request that the copy be mailed to the prison. All persons, including prisoners, must bear the cost of photocopying. Moore, 324 Ark. at 455, 921 S.W.2d at 607. Motion denied.