Case Title: Bass v. State

Citation: 2011 Ark. 25

Docket Number: CR11-25

State: arkansas

Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

Date: 2010-01-27T00:00:00Z

Document:
Cite as 2011 Ark. 25 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS No. CR 11-25 JACK WAGNER BASS APPELLANT VS. STATE OF ARKANSAS APPELLEE Opinion Delivered January 27, 2010 MOTION FOR RULE ON CLERK GRANTED. PER CURIAM Appellant Jack Wagner Bass, by and through his attorney, Stephen D. Ralph, has filed a motion for rule on clerk. Appellant filed two pro se notices of appeal beyond the time required for filing, pursuant to Rule 2 of the Arkansas Rules of Appellate Procedure–Criminal. After receiving notice of appellant’s pro se filings, Ralph filed an amended notice of appeal to provide for the transcript. Ralph states in the motion that he admits responsibility for failing to inform appellant of our rules. This court clarified its treatment of motions for rule on clerk and motions for belated appeals in McDonald v. State, 356 Ark. 106, 146 S.W.3d 883 (2004). There, we said that there are only two possible reasons for an appeal not being timely perfected: either the party or attorney filing the appeal is at fault, or, there is “good reason.” McDonald, 356 Ark. at 116, 146 S.W.3d at 891. We explained: Where an appeal is not timely perfected, either the party or attorney filing the appeal is at fault, or there is good reason that the appeal was not timely perfected. The party or attorney filing the appeal is therefore faced with two options. First, where the party or attorney filing the appeal is at fault, fault Cite as 2011 Ark. 25 should be admitted by affidavit filed with the motion or in the motion itself. There is no advantage in declining to admit fault where fault exists. Second, where the party or attorney believes that there is good reason the appeal was not perfected, the case for good reason can be made in the motion, and this court will decide whether good reason is present. Id., 146 S.W.3d at 891 (footnote omitted). While this court no longer requires an affidavit admitting fault before we will consider the motion, an attorney should candidly admit fault where he has erred and is responsible for the failure to perfect the appeal. See id. In accordance with McDonald, supra, Ralph has candidly admitted fault. The motion is, therefore, granted. A copy of this opinion will be forwarded to the Committee on Professional Conduct. Motion granted. -2-