Court Opinion

ID: 9673262
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:09:11.426863+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:28.400588
License: Public Domain

John F. Stroud, Jr., Judge, dissenting. I dissent from the majority opinion in this case because I believe it should be certified to the Arkansas Supreme Court. Our research has not revealed a case involving facts similar to those presented in the instant case. Here, the appellant participated in two military retirement plans, one of which was vested at the time of the divorce and one of which was not. The chancellor held in abeyance his decision regarding the division of the military retirement until appellant elects one of the plans as he will not be entitled to draw benefits from both. This case presents an issue that is of first impression, that is of substantial public interest, and that needs development of the law. Accordingly, in my opinion it should be certified to the Arkansas Supreme Court pursuant to Rule l-2(a)17(i), (iv), and (v) of the Rules of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. I am authorized to state that Judge Wendell Griffen joins in this dissent. Griffen, J., agrees.