Justin Jamaille Thornton, Appellant v. State of Arkansas, Appellee

Summary

The court held that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to consider lesser-included offenses after the court had reversed and dismissed Thornton’s capital-murder conviction without remanding the case. The court rejected the State’s argument that its statement declining to address lesser offenses invited further proceedings, explaining that the issue was not before the court and that the disposition meant what it said. The first-degree-murder conviction and sentence were therefore reversed and dismissed. Justice Goodson and other dissenting justices would have upheld the circuit court’s authority to consider the lesser offenses, although their reasoning differed regarding the scope of the prior mandate.