Opinion
Opinion Delivered July 11, 2002
As we recognized a year ago, the implementation of Amendment 80 is an evolving process. See In Re Implementation of Amendment 80: Administrative Plans, 345 Ark. Appx., 49 S.W.3d (2001). The Arkansas Judicial Council has presented the Court with a request to make certain amendments to Administrative Order Number 14. The Court needs further time to consider many of the items and has taken them under advisement; however, a timing issue arising under Administrative Order Number 14 needs immediate attention.
The date for submission of plans which would be due on March 1, 2003 under subsection 3 of Administrative Order Number 14 is changed to July 1, 2003. Plans submitted on this date, when approved, will go into effect on January 1, 2004. We contemplate amending Administrative Order Number 14 in the future, and at that time, we will determine the date on which plans will be due in subsequent years.
3. Supreme Court. The administrative plan for the judicial circuit shall be submitted to the Supreme Court by March 1 of each year following the year in which the general election of circuit judges is held. Until a subsequent plan is approved by the Supreme Court, any approved plan currently in effect shall remain in full force.