In Re Amendment Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-3 and Ark. R. App. P. -Crim. 14

Summary

The court amended its criminal appellate rules to eliminate mandatory review of all prejudicial errors and the Attorney General's certification and briefing role in appeals involving life imprisonment. The court retained those requirements for death-penalty cases and made the amendments effective immediately. The amendments were justified by the electronic availability of the appellate record and the continued ability of defense counsel and the court to identify meritorious issues.