Court Opinion

ID: 9679149
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:42:26.989083+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:10.684279
License: Public Domain

Robert L. Brown, Justice, dissenting. In accordance with my dissent in Efurd v. State, 352 Ark. 476, 101 S.W.3d 800 (2003) {per curiam), I do not believe that the 18-month rule set forth in Rule 2(e) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure-—Criminal should be strictly adhered to at all times. Strict adherence to the 18-month rule is inappropriate in circumstances where a criminal defendant will be denied due process because his council was ineffective and failed to file a timely appeal. We allow belated appeals and late records when an attorney is at fault. See In Re Belated Appeals in Criminal Cases, 265 Ark. 964 (1979) (per curiam). The same should hold true under these facts. Today’s decision means Bennett will be denied his right to appeal because of counsel error. Accordingly, I would grant the motion for belated appeal and rule on clerk in order to prevent Mr. Bennett’s substantive due-process rights from being violated.