Charles Neil Randle v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court held that the circuit court abused its discretion by denying Randle’s request to proceed in forma pauperis without addressing the merits of his accompanying petition for writ of error coram nobis. Because coram nobis proceedings are criminal matters, the circuit court was required to consider the underlying petition before denying the fee-waiver request. The court reversed and remanded for a merits determination on the coram nobis petition.