Court Opinion

ID: 7824115
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 18:03:00.740928+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:48.893447
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle, Justice, dissenting. I concede that the majority is technically correct on the “in custody” provision of A.R.Cr.P. Rule 37. However, I cannot agree that the appellant should be foreclosed from pursuing any relief under Rule 37. It is truly a technicality to require a convicted person to be behind bars before he may pursue post-conviction relief. After all, he stands convicted in the circuit court. He may have already been sent to the Department of Correction, in which case he has current “standing” to bring this petition. In my opinion Rule 37 should be available to any person convicted by a circuit court, provided no direct appeal is pending.