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•Proposed Rule 11(d) would exempt discovery requests and responses from general sanctions rules

Arkansas Supreme Court Proposes Major Discovery Rule Changes

The Arkansas Supreme Court has published proposed amendments to its Rules of Civil Procedure that would significantly reshape discovery practices in civil litigation. The changes include new Rule 11(d) exempting discovery from sanctions rules and comprehensive updates to Rule 26 governing discovery procedures.

•New Rule 26(g) would establish discovery-specific certification and sanctions framework

•Arkansas Supreme Court adopts Rule 902 amendments addressing electronic record authentication

Arkansas Supreme Court Updates Evidence Rules for Digital Records

The Arkansas Supreme Court has amended Rule 902 of the Arkansas Rules of Evidence to modernize self-authentication standards for electronically generated records. The changes, effective immediately, align Arkansas with federal evidence rules and streamline the admission of digital documentation in court proceedings.

•Changes align Arkansas evidence rules with federal standards and take effect immediately

•Public comment period runs through April 1, 2026, for proposed changes to Arkansas appellate procedure rules

Arkansas Supreme Court Opens Public Comment on Appellate Rule Changes

The Arkansas Supreme Court has published proposed amendments to three key appellate procedure rules and opened a public comment period through April 1, 2026. The changes affect Rules 3(f), 4(a), and 6(b) of the Arkansas Rules of Appellate Procedure, which govern how appeals are filed and processed in the state's court system.

•Three specific rules are under review: Rules 3(f), 4(a), and 6(b) governing appeal procedures

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed conviction and life sentence for child rape

Arkansas Supreme Court Affirms Life Sentence for Child Rape Conviction

The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the conviction and life sentence of Joseph Faulkner Sr. for raping a minor victim, rejecting multiple constitutional and evidentiary challenges. The court affirmed both the conviction and sentence in a January 29, 2026 decision involving multiple alleged victims.

•Defendant challenged evidence sufficiency and constitutional grounds for sentence

•Parris was sentenced to life plus 185 years for selling fentanyl and methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a church during a police sting

Arkansas High Court Upholds Life Sentence for Church Zone Drug Dealer

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed most convictions against Kent Parris, who received life imprisonment plus 185 years for selling fentanyl and methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a church during a police sting operation. The court reversed only one firearms-related conviction due to insufficient evidence.

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed six of seven convictions while reversing theft-by-receiving charge due to insufficient evidence about stolen firearm

•Justice Bronni dissented from denial of review in criminal sentencing case involving evidentiary challenges

Arkansas Justice Dissents on Sentencing Error Standard in Mills Case

Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Nicholas Bronni issued a dissenting opinion criticizing the court's refusal to review a criminal sentencing case. The dissent challenges a judicial rule that prevents defendants from claiming prejudice from evidentiary errors if they received less than the maximum sentence.

•Arkansas courts apply rule that sub-maximum sentences preclude prejudice claims from evidentiary errors

•Chief Justice gains authority to temporarily reassign circuit, district, and retired judges across different Arkansas courts and judicial circuits

Arkansas Supreme Court Finalizes Rules for Statewide Judge Assignments

The Arkansas Supreme Court permanently adopted Administrative Order No. 16, expanding the Chief Justice's authority to temporarily reassign circuit, district, and retired judges across different courts and judicial circuits throughout the state. The order took effect Jan. 29 after completing a public comment period.

•Sitting circuit judges can now serve in judicial circuits other than where they were elected or appointed

3w ago•4 min read

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed denial of motion to transfer Jonathan Rolfe's capital murder case to juvenile court

Arkansas Supreme Court Affirms Adult Trial for Juvenile Capital Murder Case

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court's denial of Jonathan Rolfe's motion to transfer his capital murder case to juvenile court. Rolfe, charged as an adult for allegedly killing three family members including his mother, challenged the constitutionality of the state's juvenile transfer statute.

•Rolfe challenged Arkansas Code section 9-27-318 as unconstitutional, but court cited 2012 precedent rejecting same argument

Jan 15, 2026•2 min read

•Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed the appeal without prejudice for lack of final order

Arkansas Supreme Court Dismisses Gun Shop Appeal Without Prejudice

The Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed without prejudice an appeal by Eureka Gun and Pawn, LLC and Keeling Grubb challenging the City of Eureka Springs over a conditional-use permit denial. The court ruled it lacked jurisdiction due to the absence of a final order from the circuit court.

•Dispute involved Eureka Gun and Pawn's challenge to conditional-use permit denial