Opinion
Opinion Delivered June 27, 2007
Rule 6-10(a) of the Rules of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals provides that in dependency-neglect appeals, the appellate courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction to relieve appointed counsel and appoint new counsel after the notice of appeal has been filed with the Circuit Clerk. Effective July 1, 2007, the Arkansas Public Defender Commission shall serve as appellate counsel for parties found by the Circuit Court to be indigent for purposes of appeal in dependency-neglect proceedings. Notwithstanding the transfer of these appeals to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission, it will continue to be the responsibility of trial counsel to file all notices of appeals in compliance with Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 6-9(b). It shall also be the responsibility of trial counsel to serve on the Arkansas Public Defender Commission within twenty-four (24) hours of filing the notice of appeal with the Circuit Clerk a file-marked copy of the notice of appeal and the order or orders that are being appealed. Service on the Arkansas Public Defender Commission may be effectuated by electronic submission. Upon receipt of the notice of appeal and orders being appealed, the Arkansas Public Defender Commission shall send a confirmation of receipt to trial counsel. This confirmation will operate to relieve trial counsel of representation of the client for the limited purpose of appeal, and no motion to be relieved as counsel need be filed with the appellate court.