Case Name: Pamela TERRY v. STATE of Arkansas
Court: Arkansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Decision Date: 2006-09-14
Citations: 367 Ark. 236
Docket Number: CR 06-688
Parties: Pamela TERRY v. STATE of Arkansas
Judges: Imber, J., concurs.
Reporter: Arkansas Reports
Volume: 367
Pages: 236–238

Head Matter:
Pamela TERRY v. STATE of Arkansas
CR 06-688
238 S.W.3d 922
Supreme Court of Arkansas
Opinion delivered September 14, 2006
The Blagg Law Firm, by: Ralph J. Blagg, for appellant.
No response.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Appellant Pamela Terry, by and through her
attorney, has filed a motion for rule on clerk to file her record and have her appeal docketed. The clerk refused to docket the appeal due to a failure to comply with Arkansas Rule of Appellate Procedure — Civil 5(b)(1)(C).
This court has held that Rule 5(b)(1) applies to both civil and criminal cases for the determination of the timeliness of a record on appeal. See Roy v. State, 367 Ark. 178, 238 S.W.3d 117 (2006). That rule provides:
(1) If any party has designated stenographically reported material for inclusion in the record on appeal, the circuit court, by order entered before expiration of the period prescribed by subdivision (a) of this rale or a prior extension order, may extend the time for filing the record only if it makes the following findings:
(A)The appellant has filed a motion explaining the reasons for the requested extension and served the motion on all counsel of record;
(B)The time to file the record on appeal has not yet expired;
(C)All parties have had the opportunity to be heard on the motion, either at a hearing or by responding in writing;
(D)The appellant, in compliance with Rule 6(b), has timely ordered the stenographically reported material from the court reporter and made any financial arrangements required by its preparation; and
(E)An extension of time is necessary for the court reporter to include the stenographically reported material in the record on appeal.
Ark. R. App. P. - Civil 5(b)(1).
On March 2, 2006, the circuit judge entered an order extending the appellant's deadline to file the transcript to June 14, 2006. The appellant's attorney admittedly failed to include in the order extending the time to file the transcript that all parties have had the opportunity to be heard on the motion, either at a hearing or by responding in writing, as required by Rule 5(b)(1)(C). The record, which was originally due on March 16, 2006, was, in fact, tendered on June 12, 2006. However, because the order granting an extension of time to file the transcript did not comply with Rule 5(b)(1), the clerk considered the record late and refused to docket it.
We have held that "there must be strict compliance with the requirements of Rule 5(b), and that we do not view the granting of an extension as a mere formality." Roy, 367 Ark. at 179, 238 S.W.3d at 119; see also White v. State, 366 Ark. 295, 234 S.W.3d 882 (2006); Rackley v. State, 366 Ark. 232, 234 S.W.3d 314 (2006). Accordingly, we remand this matter to the circuit court for compliance with Rule 5(b)(1)(C). See White, supra.
Imber, J., concurs.