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Cook v. Pine Bluff

Supreme Court of Arkansas
Oct 10, 1994
885 S.W.2d 7 (Ark. 1994)

Opinion

93-1342

Opinion delivered October 10, 1994

1. APPEAL ERROR — CHARGES DISMISSED — NO CONVICTION EXISTED FROM WHICH TO APPEAL, APPEAL DISMISSED. — Where no judgment of conviction was entered against the appellant because the charges against her were dismissed, she had no right of appeal; a person must be convicted of an offense before he or she has a right to an appeal. 2. APPEAL ERROR — POINTS OF APPEAL NEVER DECIDED ON BELOW — SUPREME COURT WILL NOT MAKE ORIGINAL DECISIONS. — Where none of the appellant's points of appeal were shown to have been decided by the circuit court, the supreme court declined to reach them; the court declined to make original, as distinguished from appellate, decisions.

Appeal for Jefferson Circuit Court; Fred D. Davis, Judge; appeal dismissed.

Appellant, pro se.

Winston Bryant, Att'y Gen., by: Brad Newman, Asst. Att'y Gen., for appellee.


The Pine Bluff Police Department was in the process of having appellant's car towed away when appellant began to strenuously object. As a result of appellant's actions, she was charged with the misdemeanors of obstruction of government operations, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. The charges were pending in municipal court when appellant moved for a jury trial. The municipal judge transferred the case to circuit court. Appellant filed numerous motions. Eventually the City moved to nolle prosse the three charges. On September 9, 1993, the circuit judge granted leave to the City to dismiss the charges. Appellant seeks to appeal from the order dismissing the charges. We dismiss the appeal.

[1, 2] No judgment of conviction was entered against appellant because the charges were dismissed. The Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure give "any person convicted of a misdemeanor" in circuit court the right of appeal to an appellate court. A.R.Cr.P. Rule 36.1 (emphasis supplied). The rule requires a person to be convicted of an offense before he or she has a right to an appeal. In addition, none of appellant's points of appeal are shown to have been decided by the circuit court. If we determined those issues we would be making original decisions. We decline to make original, as distinguished from appellate, decisions. See Trice v. City of Pine Bluff, 282 Ark. 251, 667 S.W.2d 952 (1984); Weston v. State, 265 Ark. 58, 576 S.W.2d 705, cert. denied 444 U.S. 965 (1979).

Appeal Dismissed.


Summaries of

Cook v. Pine Bluff

Supreme Court of Arkansas
Oct 10, 1994
885 S.W.2d 7 (Ark. 1994)
Case details for

Cook v. Pine Bluff

Case Details

Full title:Jo Ann COOK v. City of PINE BLUFF

Court:Supreme Court of Arkansas

Date published: Oct 10, 1994

Citations

885 S.W.2d 7 (Ark. 1994)
885 S.W.2d 7

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