State of Arkansas v. V.h.

Summary

The court held that the State could appeal the circuit court’s order removing a former juvenile offender from the sex-offender registry without complying with the criminal-appeal rule because the appeal arose from a civil collateral proceeding. It also held that the governing statute permitted the offender to petition for removal either while the court retained jurisdiction or after he turned twenty-one, so the circuit court had jurisdiction to grant relief at age twenty-five. Justice Hoofman, joined by Justices Baker and Hart, dissented, concluding that the State’s appeal was barred by the juvenile-appeal statute and applicable appellate rules.