Title: Erica Madewell v. Honorable Jim Hudson, Circuit Judge
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: CR05-757
State: Arkansas
Issuer: Arkansas Supreme Court
Date: September 22, 2005

ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT No. CR 05-757 NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION ERICA MADEWELL Petitioner v. HON. JIM HUDSON, CIRCUIT JUDGE Respondent Opinion Delivered September 22, 2005 PRO SE PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS [CIRCUIT COURT OF MILLER COUNTY, CR 99-55-2] PETITION MOOT PER CURIAM Erica Madewell filed a pro se petition for writ of mandamus in this court contending that the Honorable Jim Hudson, Circuit Judge, had failed to act in a timely manner on a petition for postconviction relief pursuant to Criminal Procedure Rule 37.1 filed July 27, 2001, in the Circuit Court of Miller County. Judge Hudson subsequently entered an order on July 13, 2005, denying the Rule 37.1 petition on the ground that it was not timely filed. Judge Hudson also filed a response to the mandamus petition in which he explained that he had not entered a formal order on the Rule 37.1 petition earlier because he had misinterpreted the rule to provide that an untimely petition was deemed denied by operation of law in the manner of a post-trial motion filed pursuant to Criminal Procedure Rule 33.1. While the delay in entering the order was unfortunate, petitioner Madewell was entitled to appeal from the order once entered, thus limiting any prejudice that may have occurred as a result of the delay. As the court has acted on the Rule 37.1 petition, the petition for writ of mandamus is moot. Petition moot.