Opinion ID: 1758769
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Constitutionality of the Arkansas Fetal Protection Act

Text: In his final two points on appeal, Bullock attacks the constitutionality of Act 1273 of 1999, the Arkansas Fetal Protection Act, now codified at Ark.Code Ann. § 5-1-102 (Supp.1999). He maintains that because the Act does not relate to the viability of a fetus, it is unconstitutional. In addition, Bullock argues that because Heaven Pace was conceived prior to the enactment of Act 1273, and because he was the first individual to be prosecuted under the act, the law as applied to him is in violation of due process. On March 31, 2000, Bullock filed a motion to adopt by reference a codefendant's motion challenging the constitutionality of Act 1273. The circuit court eventually held a hearing on November 8, 2000, and denied the motion. However, the record does not include a transcript of the hearing on November 8, 2000, or a file-stamped copy of the court's order. Furthermore, there is no indication in the abstract or the record before us that the arguments he now presents on appeal were made below. Indeed, the codefendant's motion that Bullock adopted by reference is not included in the record on appeal. [4] We will not consider arguments, even constitutional ones, that are made for the first time on appeal. Jones v. State, 347 Ark. 409, 64 S.W.3d 728 (2002). The record fails to reveal what arguments were made below, and as such we do not know if Bullock's arguments on appeal were first presented to the circuit court. In addition, it is the appellant's duty to present a record on appeal demonstrating error. Irvin v. State 345 Ark. 541, 49 S.W.3d 635 (2001). Bullock failed to present a record or abstract on appeal that informs this court of the arguments made below. Failure to produce a critical document on appeal precludes our consideration of any issue concerning it. See Watson v. State, 329 Ark. 511, 951 S.W.2d 304 (1997). Thus, we are precluded from reaching the merits of his constitutional claims. For the foregoing reasons, the convictions and sentences are affirmed. The record has been reviewed for other reversible error, as required by Supreme Court Rule 4-3(h), and none has been found. Affirmed. CORBIN, J., not participating.