Clarence Williams v. State of Arkansas

Clarence WILLIAMS v. STATE of Arkansas

CR 98-597 ___ S.W.2d ___

Supreme Court of Arkansas

Opinion delivered October 15, 1998

1. Appeal & error -- motion to dismiss -- denied. -- The State's motion to dismiss due to appellant's having failed to file a corrected brief was denied.

2. Appeal & error -- motion to file belated brief -- granted. -- Where appellant timely filed his brief, but it was rejected for failure to have it in the right format, and no corrected appellant's brief had been filed, appellant's motion to file a belated brief was granted.

Motion for to Dismiss denied; Motion to File Belated Brief granted.

Dana R. Davis, for appellant.

Winston Bryant, Att'y Gen., by: Vada Berger, Asst. Att'y Gen., for appellee.

Per Curiam.

The State of Arkansas, as appellee, moves this court to dismiss the appeal of appellant Clarence Williams. The State shows this court that Williams's brief was due on August 29, 1998, and Williams tendered his brief to the Clerk of the Supreme Court on August 19, 1998. The brief, however, was rejected for failure tohave it in the right format. No corrected appellant's brief has been filed, and that is the catalyst for the State's motion. The response of Williams's counsel, Dana R. Davis, is that travel and a full criminal practice have caused the delay in correcting the brief.

Dana R. Davis, on behalf of Williams, also moves the court to allow the filing of a belated brief. Counsel maintains that no opportunity has been afforded to file a belated brief, and a "reasonable time" to do so is requested.

We begin with the observation that it strikes us as implausible that counsel would not immediately file a corrected brief irrespective of whether he or she was told he could do so. The State's motion to dismiss is denied. Williams's motion to file a belated brief is granted. That brief must be filed within fifteen days from the date of this order. A copy of this per curiam order shall be sent to the Committee on Professional Conduct.