Chris Anthony Arnold v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of Arnold’s Rule 37 petition for postconviction relief. It held that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by allowing 81 days, rather than the requested 120 days, to amend the petition, and that Arnold failed to establish deficient performance on his ineffective-assistance claims concerning DNA evidence, alternative suspects, physical disabilities, and character witnesses. The court also held that the circuit court properly denied three claims without an evidentiary hearing because the record showed they were wholly without merit.