Opinion ID: 2278376
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ex Post Facto and Vagueness

Text: Nooner attacks the constitutionality of Arkansas's victim-impact evidence statute. Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-602(4). He challenges the law both as written and as applied. Nooner argues that imposition of the death sentence in his case violated the U.S. Constitution and the Arkansas Constitution because it was enacted after the murder of Scott Stobaugh but before his trial. Nooner alleges that as an ex post facto law, the statute could not be used to allow victim-impact testimony in his trial. Nooner also contends the victim-impact evidence statute is void for vagueness. In response, the State argues that neither of Nooner's constitutional claims were raised below and that both were resolved by this court in Nooner I . We agree. Nooner, in fact, concedes that the victim-impact issue was not litigated in the Rule 37 pleadings or hearings below. We have routinely held that we will not hear arguments raised for the first time on appeal. Moreover, Nooner I expressly rejected appellant's constitutional challenges to Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-602(4). Nooner I, 322 Ark. at 109, 907 S.W.2d 677. If an issue has already been decided on appeal, it cannot be reargued under Rule 37. Blakely v. State, 283 Ark. 138, 671 S.W.2d 183 (1984); Neal v. State, 270 Ark. 442, 605 S.W.2d 421 (1980). See also, Trimble v. State, 336 Ark. 437, 986 S.W.2d 392 (1999). This court, in Neal, supra , stated: Neal and his attorneys also seem to have a total misconception of the purpose and role of Rule 37. It is not meant to function as a substitute for appeal, as a method of review of mere error in the conduct of the trial, or as a second opportunity to petition for a rehearing. Hulsey v. State, 268 Ark. 312, 595 S.W.2d 934; Austin v. State, 264 Ark. 318, 571 S.W.2d 584; Clark v. State, 255 Ark. 13, 498 S.W.2d 657. It is not intended to permit the petitioner to again present questions which were passed upon on direct appeal. Hulsey v. State, supra . Nor does it permit a petitioner to raise questions which might have been raised at the trial or on the record on direct appeal, unless they are so fundamental as to render the judgment void and open to collateral attack. Hulsey v. State, supra . Neal, 270 Ark. at 447, 605 S.W.2d 421. Hence, it is improper to consider this issue under Rule 37.