Court Opinion

ID: 9666312
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:10:52.42982+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:26.503310
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle, Justice, dissenting. I think we should consider the validity and constitutionality of A.R.E. Rule 803 (25) on the merits. At every stage of the proceedings the appellant has protested the violation of his constitutional right of confrontation. A person ought not to be put to considerable trouble and expense in claiming what the United States Constitution already guarantees him. The price of such rights was paid when this Republic was established. Why then should any person be required to pay for these rights again? For reasons stated in my dissent in Hughes v. State, 292 Ark. 619, 732 S.W.2d 829 (1987), and in my concurring opinion and the concurring opinion of Justice Dudley in Johnson v. State, 292 Ark. 632, 732 S.W.2d 817 (1987), I must dissent in this case. See also my concurring opinion in Cogburn v. State, 292 Ark. 564, 732 S.W.2d 807 (1987).