Kelly v. State

39 S.W.3d 447, 344 Ark. 352, 2001 Ark. LEXIS 202

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Don Ethery, a state-salaried, part-time public defender for the First Judicial District, was appointed by the trial court to represent appellant Theodis Kelly, an indigent defendant, in this criminal case. Following a jury trial that concluded on December 7, 2000, Kelly was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to fifty-five years in the Arkansas Department of Correction! A notice of appeal from the judgment of conviction was timely filed and a partial record has been lodged with our clerk.

Mr. Ethery now asks this court to relieve him as counsel for Kelly in this criminal appeal. As a state-salaried, part-time public defender for the First Judicial District, Mr. Ethery is ineligible for compensation by this court for work performed in the appeal of this matter pursuant to our opinion in Rushing v. State, 340 Ark. 84, 8 S.W.3d 489 (2000). In Tester v. State, 341 Ark. 281, 16 S.W.3d 227 (2000), we relieved appellant’s court-appointed public defender and appointed new counsel on appeal under similar circumstances. See also, Craft v. State, 342 Ark. 57, 26 S.W.3d 584 (2000); McFerrin v. State, 342 Ark.61, 26 S.W.3d 429 (2000); Bolton v. State, 342 Ark. 55, 26 S.W.3d 783 (2000). We grant Mr. Ethery’s motion to be relieved for good cause shown. Mr. Robert L. Herzfeld will be substituted as attorney for appellant Theodis Kelly in this matter.