Title: Morris Brian Koontz v. State of Arkansas

State: arkansas

Issuer: Arkansas Supreme Court

Document:

ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION PER CURIAM MAY 8, 2003 MORRIS BRIAN KOONTZ Petitioner v. STATE OF ARKANSAS Respondent CR 99-791 PRO SE MOTION FOR COPY OF PARTIAL RECORD AT PUBLIC EXPENSE [CIRCUIT COURT OF HEMPSTEAD COUNTY, NO. CR 98-114-2] MOTION DENIED In 2000, Morris Brian Koontz tendered a partial appeal record and filed a motion in this court seeking to proceed with a belated appeal of a judgment of conviction. The motion was denied. Koontz v. State, CR 99-791 (Ark. February 22, 2001) (per curiam). Petitioner Koontz, who states that he is indigent, now requests a copy of the partial record at public expense. He states that the partial record is needed to bolster a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed in a federal court. The motion is denied. A petitioner is not entitled to photocopying at public expense unless he or she demonstrates some compelling need for specific documentary evidence to support an allegation contained in a petition for postconviction relief. Moore v. State, 324 Ark. 453, 921 S.W.2d 606 (1996); Brooks v. State, 303 Ark. 188 S.W.2d 792 (1990); see Austin v. State, 287 Ark. 256, 697 S.W.2d 914 (1985). Indigency alone does not entitle a petitioner to photocopying atpublic expense. Washington v. State, 270 Ark. 840, 606 S.W.2d 365 (1980). Petitioner Koontz has not established that he is entitled to a copy of the partial record at public expense. It should be noted that when a motion for belated appeal has been lodged in this court, the record tendered with the motion remains permanently on file with the clerk. Persons may review a record in the clerk's office and photocopy all or portions of it. An incarcerated person desiring a photocopy of a record on file 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 v. State, supra. Motion denied.