Joshua Chappelle Joyce v. State of Arkansas

2020 Ark. App. 350

• Court: Court of Appeals of Arkansas
• Decided: June 10, 2020
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2020 Ark. App. 350 Reason: I attest to the accuracy ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS and integrity of this document Date: 2021-07-07 13:00:20 Foxit PhantomPDF Version: DIVISION IV 9.7.5 No. CR-19-885

Opinion Delivered: June 10, 2020

JOSHUA CHAPPELLE JOYCE APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE CRITTENDEN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT V. [NO. 18CR-15-893]

STATE OF ARKANSAS HONORABLE DAN RITCHEY, APPELLEE JUDGE REBRIEFING ORDERED; MOTION TO WITHDRAW DENIED

MIKE MURPHY, Judge

On April 12, 2017, the appellant, Joshua Joyce, pleaded guilty to felon in possession

of a firearm, a Class B felony, and was sentenced to six years of supervised probation. On

April 30, 2019, the State filed a petition to revoke Joyce’s probation alleging Joyce had

violated the terms and conditions of his probation.

Following a hearing, the Crittenden County Circuit Court revoked Joyce’s

probation. Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and Rule 4-3(k)(1) of the

Rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Joyce’s attorney has filed a no-

merit brief and a motion to withdraw as counsel asserting that there is no issue of arguable

merit for an appeal. The clerk of this court mailed Joyce a packet containing a copy of his

counsel’s brief and notice of his right to file pro se points. The packet was returned to the

clerk’s office marked “vacant, unable to forward.” The clerk’s office contacted Joyce’s counsel and parole officer, but no additional contact information for the appellant was

available. Having reviewed the record, we hold that appellant’s counsel’s no-merit brief is

not in compliance with Anders and Rule 4-3(k). Therefore, we order rebriefing and deny

without prejudice counsel’s motion to withdraw.

Rule 4-3(k)(1) requires that the argument section of a no-merit brief contain “a list

of all rulings adverse to the defendant made by the circuit court on all objections, motions

and requests . . . with an explanation as to why each adverse ruling is not a meritorious

ground for reversal.” (Emphasis added.) The requirement for abstracting and briefing every

adverse ruling ensures that the due-process concerns in Anders are met and prevents the

unnecessary risk of a deficient Anders brief resulting in an incorrect decision on counsel’s

motion to withdraw. Pursuant to Anders, we are required to determine whether the case is

wholly frivolous after a full examination of all the proceedings. T.S. v. State, 2017 Ark. App.

578, 534 S.W.3d 160. A no-merit brief in a criminal case that fails to address an adverse

ruling does not satisfy the requirements of Rule 4-3(k)(1), and rebriefing will be required.

Jester v. State, 2018 Ark. App. 360, 553 S.W.3d 198.

Our review of this record demonstrates that counsel failed to address some adverse

rulings related to requests made by Joyce’s counsel. Counsel did adequately address the

sufficiency of the evidence to support the revocation as well as the objections made at trial.

However, counsel failed to address the requests to continue Joyce’s probation with

additional restrictions, to set the matter for a review hearing, or to place Joyce in the drug-

court program, all of which were denied. Because these are “requests” as contemplated by

Rule 4-3(k)(1) and because counsel failed to explain why they would not warrant

2 meritorious grounds for reversal on appeal, rebriefing is required. See, e.g., Pettigrew v. State,

2019 Ark. App. 336.

Counsel has fifteen days from the date of this opinion to file a substituted brief that

complies with the rules. See Ark. Sup. Ct. R. 4-2(b)(3). After counsel has filed the

substituted brief, our clerk will attempt to forward counsel’s motion and brief to appellant,

and he will have thirty days within which to raise pro se points in accordance with Rule 4-

3(k). The State will likewise be given an opportunity to file a responsive brief if pro se points

are made.

Rebriefing ordered; motion to withdraw denied.

GRUBER, C.J., and BROWN, J., agree.

S. Butler Bernard, Jr., for appellant.

One brief only.