Title: Jamie Eckler v. State of Arkansas
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: CR02-69
State: Arkansas
Issuer: Arkansas Supreme Court
Date: May 16, 2002

ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION PER CURIAM MAY 16, 2002 JAMIE ECKLER Appellant v. STATE OF ARKANSAS Appellee CR 02-69 PRO SE MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL [CIRCUIT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NO. CR 97-477-2-3, HON. FRED DAVIS, JUDGE] MOTION MOOT; APPEAL DISMISSED In 1997, Jamie Eckler pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and theft by receiving for which an aggregate sentence of 240 months' imprisonment was imposed. In 2000, Eckler filed in the trial court a petition for postconviction relief pursuant to Criminal Procedure Rule 37, challenging the judgment. The petition was denied, and Eckler has lodged an appeal of the order in this court. Now before us is appellant Eckler's motion for appointment of counsel. We declare the motion moot and dismiss the appeal because the Rule 37 petition filed in the trial court was untimely, and thus appellant was procedurally barred from proceeding under the rule. This court has consistently held that an appeal of the denial of postconviction relief will not be permitted to go forward where it is clear that the appellant could not prevail. Seaton v. State, 324 Ark. 236, 920 S.W.2d 13 (1996); Harris v. State, 318 Ark. 599, 887 S.W.2d 514 (1994); Reed v. State, 317 Ark. 286, 878 S.W.2d 376 (1994); see Chambers v. State, 304 Ark. 663, 803 S.W.2d 932 (1991); Johnson v. State, 303 Ark. 560, 798 S.W.2d 108 (1990); Williams v. State, 293 Ark. 73, 732 S.W.2d 456 (1987). Criminal Procedure Rule 37.2(c) provides in pertinent part that a petition under the rule is untimely if not filed within ninety days of the date the judgment was entered on a plea of guilty. Appellant did not file her petition under the rule until approximately three years after the judgment was entered. Time limitations imposed in Criminal Procedure Rule 37 are jurisdictional in nature, and a circuit court cannot grant relief on an untimely petition. Benton v. State, 325 Ark. 246, 925 S.W.2d 401 (1996); Hamilton v. State, 323 Ark. 614, 918 S.W.2d 113 (1996); Harris v. State, 318 Ark. 599, 887 S.W.2d 514 (1994); Maxwell v. State, 298 Ark. 329, 767 S.W.2d 303 (1989). Motion moot; appeal dismissed.