Court Opinion

ID: 9758354
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 23:23:29.015079+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:49.818836
License: Public Domain

Jim Hannah, Chief Justice, concurring. I agree with the majority that this case should be affirmed; however, because I disagree with the last paragraph of the majority opinion, I must concur. I write separately to express my disagreement with the majority’s issuance of an advisory opinion. In the final paragraph of the opinion, the majority states, in relevant part: DHS contends that this appeal is moot with respect to C.H. because there was no appeal of the December 13, 2005 order from the termination hearing. ... In Flannery v. Arkansas Department of Human Services, 367 Ark. 473, 241 S.W.3d 251 (2006), we remanded the indigent father’s motion for a belated appeal in order for the trial court to determine whether Flannery had been made aware of his right to appeal, and whether he had received notice of the termination order. The trial court found that Flannery was not notified of his right to appeal the parental-termination order and, recendy, this court granted his motion for belated appeal. See Flannery v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 368 Ark. 31, 242 S.W.3d 619 (2006). In the instant case, the issue of mootness is premature, as we do not know the status of any appeal from the December 13, 2005 order. It is not the practice of this court to anticipate future litigation and issue advisory opinions. Wright v. Keffer, 319 Ark. 201, 890 S.W.2d 271 (1995). The majority appears to suggest that this court will entertain a belated appeal of the order terminating parental rights as to C.H. Aside from the fact that no appeal has been taken, the question of whether a belated appeal would be allowed in this case necessarily involves fact-based issues that have not been decided at the trial level. We do not know whether Ms. Harwell-Williams will ever appeal the order terminating her rights as to C.H., and we certainly do not know whether Ms. HarwellWilliams would assert a good reason for this court to grant a motion for belated appeal. We have consistently refused to issue advisory opinions based on facts not in evidence and events that have not yet occurred. See, e.g., Harris v. City of Little Rock, 344 Ark. 95, 40 S.W.3d 214 (2001). “[C]ourts do not sit for the purpose of determining speculation and abstract questions of law or laying down rules for the future conduct[.]” Id. at 103, 40 S.W.3d at 220 (quoting Baker Car & Truck Rental, Inc. v. City of Little Rock, 325 Ark. 357, 363, 925 S.W.2d 780, 784 (1996)). Based on the foregoing, I believe the last paragraph of the majority opinion should be stricken in its entirety. Coruin, J., joins.