Smith v. Hobbs

Summary

The court affirmed dismissal of Smith's petition for declaratory judgment and mandamus challenging the Arkansas Department of Correction's calculation of his parole-eligibility date. It held that the parole statute is neither a sentencing nor sentence-enhancement provision and that Smith failed to establish a justiciable controversy or a clear right to mandamus relief. The court also held that declaratory judgment and mandamus cannot be used as collateral substitutes for challenging a criminal conviction or sentence.