Arkansas Supreme Court

The Arkansas Supreme Court released opinions Thursday. The court’s ruling and the names of the cases are reprinted here. The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the Internet at arcourts.gov. PROCEEDINGS OF OCT. 15, 2020 CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN DAN KEMP CR-09-1213. Anthony Brian Williamson v. State of Arkansas, from Sebastian County Circuit Court, Fort Smith District. Petitioner’s pro se second petition to reinvest jurisdiction in the trial court to consider a petition for writ of error coram nobis; motion for discovery and for appointment of counsel; and motion for default judgment. Petition denied; motion for discovery and appointment of counsel moot; and motion for default judgment moot. CV-20-546. Tom Steele v. John Thurston, in His Official Capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Arkansas, from Pulaski County Circuit Court, Ninth Division. Affirmed. Mandate to issue immediately. Wood, J., concurs. Hart and Womack, JJ., dissent.

JUSTICE JOSEPHINE LINKER

HART

CR-20-60. Jerry W. McKee v. State of Arkansas, from Greene County Circuit Court. Affirmed. CR-20-424. Vasquez Dominique Hayes v. State of Arkansas, from Miller County Circuit Court. Petitioner’s pro se motion for rule on clerk; motion for transcript; petition for writ of mandamus; and motion for appointment of counsel. Motion for rule on clerk granted; motion for transcript, petition for writ of mandamus, and motion for appointment of counsel denied.

CV-20-548. Stay Strong, Status Quo, a Local Option Ballot Question Committee and Bevans Family Limited Partnership v. The Van Buren County Board of Election Commissioners; Verna Hicks, in Her Official Capacity as Chair of the Van Buren County Board of Election Commissioners; and Let Van Buren County Vote, a Local Option Ballot Question Committee, from Van Buren County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Mandate to issue immediately. Special Justice John R. Scott joins. Wynne and Womack, JJ., dissent. Baker, J., not participating.

JUSTICE RHONDA K. WOOD CV-20-527. Stay Strong, Status Quo, a Local Option Ballot Question Committee, and Bevans Family Limited Partnership v. Pam Bradford, in Her Official Capacity as County Clerk of Van Buren County, Arkansas; and Let Van Buren County Vote, a Local Option Ballot Question Committee, from Van Buren County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Mandate to issue immediately. Special Justice John R. Scott joins. Wynne and Womack, JJ., dissent. Baker, J., not participating.

JUSTICE SHAWN A. WOMACK CR-07-98. Rodney Lee Mitchael v. State of Arkansas, from Crawford County Circuit Court. Petitioner’s pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus, motion to recall the mandate to reinvest jurisdiction in the trial court to consider a petition for writ of error coram nobis, and motion for joinder of claims denied.

JUSTICE COURTNEY RAE HUDSON CR-20-137. Mark Robinson v. State of Arkansas, from Saline County Circuit Court. Appellant’s pro se motion to file belated reply brief.

Affirmed; motion denied. Hart, J., concurs in part and dissents in part.

CV-20-499. David Tollett, a Resident, Qualified Elect or, and the Republican Party Nominee for Arkansas House District 12 v. Jimmie L. Wilson; Phillips County Board of Election Commissioners; Lincoln County Board of Election Commissioners; Desha County Board of Election Commissioners; Arkansas County Board of Election Commissioners; Michael John Gray, in His Official Capacity as Chairman of the Democrat Party of Arkansas; Nicole Hart, in Her Official Capacity as Chair of the Democrat Party of Arkansas’ Nominating Convention for House District 12; Loretta Jarrett, in Her Official Capacity as Secretary of the Democrat Party of Arkansas’ Nominating Convention for House District 12; John Thurston, in His Official Capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Arkansas, from Pulaski County Circuit Court, Twelfth Division. Affirmed as modified. Mandate to issue immediately. JUSTICE ROBIN F. WYNNE CR-18-546. Kwasi McKinney v. State of Ar kansas, from Columbia County Circuit Court. Petitioner’s pro se second petition to reinvest jurisdiction in the trial court to consider a petition for writ of error coram nobis and motion to amend petition. Motion to amend petition granted; petition denied. CV-19-975. Lawrence C. Bandy, M.D., and Arkansas Gyn Oncology, P.A. v. Mildred Vick, from Pulaski County Circuit Court, Sixth Division. Reversed and remanded. Wood and Womack, JJ., concur in part without opinion. Hart, Wood, and Womack, JJ., dissent.