Court Opinion

ID: 9774289
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:13:56.802791+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:05.026750
License: Public Domain

Conley Byrd, Justice, dissenting in part. I concur in the result only because the record demonstrates that petitioner caused the delay by requesting that Pamela Baxter be relieved as his attorney of record. Consequently, two terms of court have not elapsed within the meaning of Ark. Stat. Ann. § 43-1708 (Repl. 1977). I must disagree with the insinuation that a prisoner can be held in prison without a trial on a pending charge for three full terms of court after the filing of the charge. Hold orders such as the warrants outstanding against petitioner affect the right of a prisoner to good time for good behavior. While appellant’s conduct merits no sympathy, we must remember that the criminal laws and procedures apply alike to all persons. If the State can ignore the 9 month speedy trial provision on petitioner, with our approval, then the State can take the same stand when the prisoner is the son of the mayor or the preacher who finds himself in prison on a manslaughter charge arising out of an automobile collision. To show the callousness of the majority’s view, one need only look at how the time is calculated — i.e. because the first Monday in October commenced on 10-3-77 and petitioner was not arrested until October 6, 1977, the October 1977 term is not counted. In other words the first full term of court after petitioner’s arrest would not lapse until October 2, 1978; the second full term would not lapse until February 5, 1979; and the third full term would not lapse until October 1, 1979. As I calculate the time the majority are holding that a petitioner can be held in prison by the State from October 6, 1977 through October 1, 1979 without denying him a speedy trial while the petitioner is denied all prison privileges including credit for good time. The trouble with courts prescribing rules of procedure is well demonstrated by the majority view — i.e. they can put on a “white hat” and tell the preacher and the congregation that nobody can be held in prison for more than NINE MONTHS without a trial. Yet the majority can later don a black robe and tell the petitioner’s mother that what the court giveth by rule it can take away by interpretation. For the reasons herein stated, I respectfully dissent.