Under our declaratory judgment act, courts of record within their respective jurisdictions have the power to declare rights, status, and other legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be claimed. Ark. Code Ann. Courts of equity do not have jurisdiction to render declaratory judgments where the subject matter is not cognizable in a court of equity. The pertinent inquiry is whether exclusive jurisdiction of the subject matter is vested in a particulartribunal by the Arkansas Constitution. It thus follows that where exclusive jurisdiction rests with the circuit court, declaratory-judgment actions must be pursued there.
Circuit courts have exclusive jurisdiction over criminal prosecutions.
See Ark. Const. Accordingly, Appellees' declaratory-judgment action may only be pursued in the circuit court. Once the circuit court acquires jurisdiction to declare such rights it may also issue injunctive relief. Thus, Appellees' remedy at law is complete. We thus reverse the order of the chancery court, as it does not have jurisdiction to hear the case.