Opinion ID: 1767825
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ark R.App.P.-Crim. 3

Text: We will first address whether the State is authorized to bring an appeal in this case pursuant to Rule 3 of the Arkansas Rules of Appellate Procedure-Criminal (2007). Rule 3(a)(1) states that an interlocutory appeal on behalf of the State may be taken from a pretrial order in a felony prosecution which grants a motion under Ark. R. Crim P. 16.2 (2007) to suppress seized evidence. Rule 3(c) provides that when a notice of appeal is filed pursuant to subsection (a), the State is authorized to appeal a criminal case when the Attorney General, after inspecting the record, is satisfied that the circuit court committed error prejudicial to the State and that review by this court is necessary to ensure the correct and uniform administration of justice. Id. See also Harmon, supra . Our case law clearly sets out the circumstances under which we will consider an appeal by the State: This court's review of the State's appeals is not limited to cases that would establish precedent. As a matter of practice, this court has only taken appeals which are narrow in scope and involve the interpretation of the law. Where an appeal does not present an issue of interpretation of the criminal rules with widespread ramifications, this court has held that such an appeal does not involve the correct and uniform administration of the law. Appeals are not allowed merely to demonstrate the fact that the trial court erred. Where the resolution of the issue on appeal turns on the facts unique to the case, the appeal is not one requiring interpretation of our criminal rules with widespread ramification, and the matter is not appealable by the State. Barritt v. State, 372 Ark. 395, 277 S.W.3d 211 (2008) (citing State v. Brooks, 360 Ark. 499, 504, 202 S.W.3d 508, 512 (2005)). Here, the State contends that the issues involve legal questions rather than factual questions, thereby giving us jurisdiction to hear this appeal. We agree. The outcome of this appeal requires the interpretation of our criminal case law regarding canine sniffs. The issue here is not whether the circuit court applied the law incorrectly to this particular set of facts, but whether the circuit court misinterpreted the law and then applied a flawed interpretation of the law to suppress the seized drugs in this case. See Harmon, supra . Further, Appellee admits in his brief that [t]his case provides this Court with an opportunity to address the issues of when a dog sniff is justified and the legal basis necessary to support such a search. Appellee also states that [t]his Court should clarify the issues as now raised under Arkansas law. Because the holding in this case presents an issue of interpretation with widespread ramifications and will be important to the correct and uniform administration of the criminal law, we accept the State's appeal.