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SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
Opinion Delivered September 26, 2013
IN RE ARK. R. CRIM. P. 1.8 & 7.1;
AND ARK. SUP. CT. R. 6-6
PER CURIAM
We published for comment proposals of the Supreme Court Committee on Criminal
Practice. See In re Committee on Criminal Practice – Proposed Rule Changes, 2013 Ark. 279 (per
curiam). We adopt the proposals and republish the rules as set out below. The changes are
effective immediately.
We again express our gratitude to the members of the Criminal Practice Committee
for their work.
Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure
Rule 1.8. Criminal Magistrates.
....
(b) A criminal magistrate may perform the following duties with respect to an
investigation or prosecution of an offense lying within the exclusive jurisdiction
of the circuit court:
(i) Issue a search warrant pursuant to Rule 13.1.
(ii) Issue an arrest warrant pursuant to Rule 7.1 or Arkansas Code § 16-81-104,
or issue a summons pursuant to Rule 6.1.
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(iii) Make a reasonable cause determination pursuant to Rule 4.1(e).
(iv) Conduct a first appearance pursuant to Rule 8.1, at which the criminal
magistrate may appoint counsel pursuant to Rule 8.2; inform a defendant
pursuant to Rule 8.3; accept a plea of “not guilty” or “not guilty by reason of
insanity”; conduct a pretrial release inquiry pursuant to Rules 8.4 and 8.5; or
release a defendant from custody pursuant to Rules 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3.
(v) Conduct a preliminary hearing as provided in Ark. Code Ann. § 16-93-307(a).
....
Rule 7.1. Arrest with a warrant: basis for issuance of arrest warrant.
(a) A judicial officer may issue an arrest warrant for a person who has failed to
appear in response to a summons or citation.
(b) In addition, a judicial officer may issue a warrant for the arrest of a person
if, from affidavit, recorded testimony, or other information, it appears there is
reasonable cause to believe an offense has been committed and the person
committed it. A judicial officer may issue a summons in lieu of an arrest
warrant as provided in Rule 6.1.
(c) A judicial officer who has determined that an arrest warrant should be issued may
authorize the clerk of the court or his deputy to issue the warrant.
Reporter’s Notes, 2013 Amendment.
The 2013 amendment made it clear that in all situations in which a warrant
should issue, the judicial officer may delegate the actual issuance of the warrant to a
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clerk or deputy clerk.
Rules of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
Rule 6-6. Pauper’s oath and motions for attorney’s fees in criminal cases.
(a) Jurisdiction of request to proceed in forma pauperis. When a criminal case is
appealed to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, a request to proceed in
forma pauperis may be filed with the appellate court at any time after the record
is docketed with the clerk of the court. Prior to the docketing of the record
with the clerk of the appellate court, the trial court shall have exclusive
jurisdiction to consider a request to proceed in forma pauperis. Any petition or
motion requesting to proceed in forma pauperis that is filed with the appellate
court before the record is docketed with the clerk of the court shall be returned
for failure to comply with this Rule.
(b) Pauper’s oath and affidavit; requirement. A petition or motion filed with the
Supreme Court or Court of Appeals requesting to proceed in forma pauperis shall
be accompanied by an assertion of indigency, verified by a supporting affidavit.
The affidavit form will be provided by the Clerk of the Court for such
purposes. Any petition or motion not in compliance with this Rule will be
returned to the petitioner or counsel for failure to comply.
(c) Form for affidavit in support of request to proceed in forma pauperis. The form
of the affidavit shall be as follows:
[No change to current form in Rule 6-6]
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(d) Content of motions for attorney's fees. All motions for attorney's fees from
attorneys appointed to represent indigent appellants in criminal cases shall
contain the following information: (1) the date of appointment; (2) the court
that appointed counsel; (3) the number of hours expended by counsel in
research, court appearances, and preparation of pleadings and briefs; (4)
counsel's customary rate of compensation in similar cases; (5) the customary rate
of compensation in similar cases of attorneys in the community; (6) expenses
incurred by counsel that are directly attributable to the case; (7) the
experience of counsel in the representation of criminal appellants; and (8) the
relative complexity of the case. The motion shall be filed not later than 30 days
after the issuance of the mandate.
Reporter’s Notes, 2013 Amendment.
The 2013 amendment added subsection (a) to clarify which court has jurisdiction to
consider a request to proceed in forma pauperis.
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