Opinion
Delivered October 5, 1992
Ark. Code Ann. 16-10-130 (1987) provides that all courts of this state shall, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, give precedence to the trial of criminal cases over other matters, civil or criminal, when the alleged victim is under age fourteen. Effective immediately, when a case affected by 16-10-130 is not tried within nine months following arraignment, the circuit judge before whom the case is pending will inform the Administrative Office of the Courts in writing the reason or reasons the case has not been tried. Thereafter, at intervals of ninety (90) days the trial court will inform the Administrative Office of the Courts as to the status of the case. During the pendency of the case no continuance shall be granted on motion of either the state or the defendant except upon written order detailing the reasons for, and the duration of, the delay.