Opinion
NO. 5
03-13-2014
IN RE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
PER CURIAM
We amend and republish Administrative Order Number 5, as set out below. This amendment is effective immediately. ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NUMBER 5 -
CRIMINAL CASES WHERE ALLEGED VICTIM IS UNDER AGE FOURTEEN
Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-10-130 (1987) provides that all courts of this state shall, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, give precedence to the disposition 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 or otherwise disposed of within nine months following the filing of a criminal information in the circuit court, the circuit judge, before whom the case is pending, will inform the Administrative Office of the Courts in writing the reason or reasons therefor. Thereafter, at intervals of ninety (90) days the trial court will inform the Administrative Office of the Courts of 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.