Title: Curtis Ray Howard v. State of Arkansas

State: arkansas

Issuer: Arkansas Supreme Court

Document:

ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION PER CURIAM JANUARY 17, 2002 CURTIS RAY HOWARD Petitioner v. STATE OF ARKANSAS Respondent CR 84-7 PRO SE MOTION FOR PHOTOCOPY OF TRIAL TRANSCRIPT AT PUBLIC EXPENSE [CIRCUIT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NO. CR 83-62-2] MOTION DENIED In 1983, Curtis Ray Howard was found guilty by a jury of aggravated robbery and theft of property and sentenced as an habitual offender to consecutive terms of life imprisonment and thirty years. We affirmed. Howard v. State, 283 Ark. 221, 674 S.W.2d 936 (1984). He subsequently filed a petition pursuant to Criminal Procedure Rule 37 challenging the judgments, which this court denied in 1987. Howard v. State, CR 84-7 (April 1, 1985) (per curiam). Petitioner Howard, who contends that he is indigent, now seeks at public expense a copy of the trial transcript lodged in this court on direct appeal in 1984. As the basis for the request, petitioner asserts that he was denied effective assistance of counsel and cannot present allegations to this court without a copy of the transcript. The motion for transcript is denied. First, petitioner has already proceeded underCriminal Procedure Rule 37. He is not entitled to file a subsequent petition. Rule 37.2 (b). 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. See Austin v. State, 287 Ark. 256, 697 S.W.2d 914 (1985). Indigency in itself does not entitle a petitioner to a free photocopying. Washington v. State, 270 Ark. 840, 606 S.W.2d 365 (1980). As the petitioner here has already proceeded under our postconviction rule, there is no ground to grant the request for a copy of the transcript. It should be noted that when an appeal has been lodged in this court, the appeal transcript remains permanently on file with our clerk. Persons may review a transcript in the clerk's office and photocopy all or portions of it. An incarcerated person desiring a photocopy of a transcript 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, 324 Ark. 453, 921 S.W.2d 606 (1996). Motion denied. Imber, J., not participating.