Cite as 2014 Ark. 264
SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
Opinion Delivered May 29, 2014
IN RE ARKANSAS RULES OF
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 7.1, 13.1,
AND 33.8
PER CURIAM
We published for comment proposals of the Supreme Court Committee on Criminal
Practice to amend Ark. R. Crim. P. 7.1 and 13.1 and to adopt a new Rule 33.8. In re
Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Criminal Practice—Proposed Rule Changes, 2014 Ark. 120
(per curiam). Today, we adopt amendments to Rules 7.1 and 13.1 and republish them as set
out below. We adopt and publish Rule 33.8. These rules are effective July 1, 2014. We
express our gratitude to the members of the Criminal Practice Committee for their work.
Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure
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 documented 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
Cite as 2014 Ark. 264
arrest warrant as provided in Rule 6.1. An affidavit or other documented
information in support of an arrest warrant may be transmitted to the issuing
judicial officer by facsimile or by other electronic means. Recorded testimony
in support of an arrest warrant may be received by telephone or other
electronic means provided the issuing judicial officer first administers an oath
by telephone or other electronic means to the person testifying in support of
the issuance of the warrant.
(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 Note, 2014.
In 2014, subsection (b) was amended to address the transmission by electronic means of affidavits
in support of a warrant. In addition, oaths and recorded testimony may be administered and
received by telephone or other electronic means that permit audible communication.
Rule 13.1. Issuance of search warrant.
(a) A search warrant may be issued only by a judicial officer.
(b) The application for a search warrant shall describe with particularity the
persons or places to be searched and the persons or things to be seized, and shall
be supported by one (1) or more affidavits or recorded testimony under oath
before a judicial officer particularly setting forth the facts and circumstances
tending to show that such persons or things are in the places, or the things are
2
Cite as 2014 Ark. 264
in possession of the person, to be searched. If an affidavit or testimony is based
in whole or in part on hearsay, the affiant or witness shall set forth particular
facts bearing on the informant's reliability and shall disclose, as far as practicable,
the means by which the information was obtained. An affidavit or testimony
is sufficient if it describes circumstances establishing reasonable cause to believe
that things subject to seizure will be found in a particular place. Failure of the
affidavit or testimony to establish the veracity and bases of knowledge of
persons providing information to the affiant shall not require that the
application be denied, if the affidavit or testimony viewed as a whole, provides
a substantial basis for a finding of reasonable cause to believe that things subject
to seizure will be found in a particular place.
(c) An application for a search warrant and the affidavit in support of the search
warrant may be transmitted to the issuing judicial officer by facsimile or by
other electronic means. Recorded testimony in support of a search warrant
may be received by telephone or other electronic means provided the issuing
judicial officer first administers an oath by telephone or other electronic means
to the person testifying in support of the issuance of the warrant. After signing
a search warrant, the judicial officer issuing the warrant may transmit a copy of
the warrant by facsimile or other electronic means to the applicant for the
warrant. The original signed search warrant shall be retained by the judicial
officer issuing the warrant and shall be filed with the record of the proceeding
3
Cite as 2014 Ark. 264
as provided in Rule 13.4(c).
(d) Before acting on the application, the judicial officer may examine on oath
the affiants or witnesses, and the applicant and any witnesses he may produce,
and may himself call such witnesses as he deems necessary to a decision. He
shall make and keep a fair written summary of the proceedings and the
testimony taken before him, except that if sworn testimony alone is offered in
support of the application, such testimony shall be recorded pursuant to
subsection (b) hereof.
(e) If the judicial officer finds that the application meets the requirements of this
rule and that, on the basis of the proceedings before him, there is reasonable
cause to believe that the search will discover persons or things specified in the
application and subject to seizure, he shall issue a search warrant based on his
finding and in accordance with the requirements of this rule. If he does not so
find, the judicial officer shall deny the application.
(f) The proceedings upon application for a search warrant shall be conducted
with such secrecy as the issuing judicial officer deems appropriate to the
circumstances.
Reporter’s Note, 2014.
In 2014, subsection (c) was added to address the transmission by electronic means of affidavits
in support of a warrant. In addition, oaths and recorded testimony may be administered and
received by telephone or other electronic means that permit audible communication. The remaining
4
Cite as 2014 Ark. 264
subsections were redesignated (d) - (f).
Rule 33.8. Record of waiver of right to testify.
If in a trial the defendant waives the right to testify in his or her own defense,
the court shall determine on the record in the presence of the defendant that
the defendant has been advised of the right to testify and has waived that right.
Such a determination shall not be made by inquiry directed to the defendant
and shall not be made in the presence of the jury.
Reporter’s Note, 2014.
This rule was added in 2014 in response to the Supreme Court’s decisions in Williams
v. State, 2011 Ark. 489 and Sartin v. State, 2012 Ark. 155. The rule is satisfied if
defense counsel affirmatively states on the record that he or she has advised the defendant
of the right to testify. If defense counsel does not so state, the trial court should determine
by inquiry addressed to counsel that the defendant has been so advised.
5