Her v. State

2015 Ark. 278

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: June 18, 2015
• Docket: CR-14-580
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2015 Ark. 278

SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS No. CR-14-580

KOU HER Opinion Delivered June 18, 2015 APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE JOHNSON V. COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT [NO. CR-13-77]

STATE OF ARKANSAS HONORABLE WILLIAM M. APPELLEE PEARSON, JUDGE

REBRIEFING ORDERED.

PER CURIAM

Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and Arkansas Supreme Court

Rule 4-3(k)(1)(2014), appellant, Kou Her’s counsel, John Cameron Burnett, has filed a

substituted no-merit brief and a motion to withdraw in which he asserts that there are no

nonfrivolous arguments that would arguably support an appeal.

After a three-day jury trial on December 10–12, 2013, a Johnson County jury

convicted Her of the following charges: (1) first-degree murder with a sentence of life

imprisonment; (2) aggravated residential burglary with a sentence of life imprisonment; (3)

attempted kidnapping with a sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment; (4) first-degree battery with

a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment; and (5) aggravated assault with a sentence of two years’

imprisonment. Because Her received a sentence of life imprisonment, our jurisdiction is

pursuant to Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 1-2(a)(2) (2014).

After the parties filed their respective briefs, including Her’s pro se points on appeal, Cite as 2015 Ark. 278

on March 5, 2015, we ordered rebriefing because Her’s counsel’s brief did not comply with

Rule 4-3(k). Her v. State, 2015 Ark. 91, 457 S.W.3d 659. On March 19, 2015, Her’s

counsel filed a second motion to withdraw as counsel and his supplemental no-merit brief.

Anders, 386 U.S. 738. In accordance with Rule 4-3(k)(2), our clerk furnished Her with a

copy of the no-merit brief. After rebriefing, Her and the State were both afforded the

opportunity to file supplemental briefs. However, both relied on their respective briefs that

had been previously filed in this matter.1

We now turn to Her’s counsel’s Anders brief and motion to withdraw, Her’s pro se

points, and the State’s response. However, we are again unable to consider his appeal at this

time, because the brief is not in compliance with Rule 4-3(k)(1). Burnett lists five adverse

rulings and states that the rulings are not meritorious grounds for relief. Although Burnett lists

the second, third, and fourth adverse rulings from Her’s trial, Burnett fails to include any

explanation why each adverse ruling is not a meritorious ground for reversal.

Her’s counsel asserts that “the second objection was by the State in relation to a

question posed to officer Allie Wilkerson by Defense Counsel. The trial court ruled the

question was not relevant.” Counsel goes on to state the standard of review for evidentiary

rulings. However, counsel provides no explanation “as to why [the] adverse ruling is not a

meritorious ground for reversal” as required by Rule 4-3(k). Counsel simply states that “the

trial court did not abuse its discretion.” Because Her’s counsel offers no explanation why the

1 On October 24, 2014, Her submitted a pro se response, setting forth six issues. On November 29, 2014, the State responded.

2 Cite as 2015 Ark. 278

ruling is not a meritorious ground for relief, the brief fails to comply with Rule 4-3(k).

Her’s counsel next contends that the “the third objection was by Defense Counsel

asserting that Counsel for the State was making a statement rather than asking a question.”

Counsel goes on to state the standard of review for evidentiary rulings. However, counsel

provides no explanation “as to why [the] adverse ruling is not a meritorious ground for

reversal” as required by Rule 4-3(k). Counsel simply states “the trial court did not abuse its

discretion.” Because Her’s counsel offers no explanation why the ruling is not a meritorious

ground for relief, he has failed to comply with Rule 4-3(k).

Finally, the fourth adverse ruling occurred during the cross-examination of the State’s

witness, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jeff Wood. Her’s counsel contends in

his brief that “there was one other objection voiced by the State wherein the State objected

to a potential answer to a question by officer Jeff Wood. However, the trial court correctly

ruled that there had not been an answer to the question at that point and therefore the court

did not issue a ruling. Therefore, there was no adverse ruling on this point.” However,

again, counsel provides no explanation “as to why [the] adverse ruling is not a meritorious

ground for reversal” as required by Rule 4-3(k).

Accordingly, we must remand this matter to be rebriefed for a second time. We

encourage counsel to carefully examine the record and review our rules before resubmitting

an Anders brief. Accordingly, we order counsel to submit a substituted brief within fifteen

days of this opinion. Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-2(b)(3). If Burnett chooses to again file an Anders

brief, his brief will be forwarded by our clerk to Her so that, within thirty days, Her again will

3 Cite as 2015 Ark. 278

have the opportunity to raise any points he so chooses in accordance with Ark. Sup. Ct. R.

4-3(k)(2), and the State shall be afforded the opportunity to file a responsive brief.

Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 4-3(k), we order rebriefing.

HANNAH, C.J., and WOOD, J., dissent.

RHONDA K. WOOD, JUSTICE, dissenting. I dissent because I would reach the

merits of the case for the reasons explained in the dissents in Her v. State, 2015 Ark. 91, 457

S.W.3d 659 (Hannah, C.J., dissenting) and Gordon v. State, 2015 Ark. 191 (Wood, J.,

dissenting).

John C. Burnett, for appellant.

Dustin McDaniel, Att’y Gen., by: Valerie Glover Fortner, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.