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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

•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

•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

•Oregon Supreme Court affirmed Court of Appeals while reversing circuit court in prosecutorial misconduct case

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Reverses Circuit Court in State v. Strain

The Oregon Supreme Court issued a split decision affirming the Court of Appeals while reversing a Washington County Circuit Court judgment in State v. Strain. The case involved prosecutorial comments about evidence presentation during closing arguments.

•Court held prosecutor's comments impermissibly suggested defendant had burden to elicit evidence through cross-examination

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed termination of father's parental rights to newborn

West Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Termination of Father's Rights

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's decision to terminate a father's parental rights to his newborn child. The court cited the father's extensive criminal history, domestic violence against the child's mother, and ongoing substance abuse issues.

•Father had extensive criminal history including domestic violence and drug offenses

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed circuit court's termination of mother's parental rights to two children

West Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Termination of Mother's Parental Rights

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a Nicholas County circuit court's decision to terminate a mother's parental and custodial rights to her two children. The mother had argued the lower court erred in failing to grant her an improvement period and in terminating her rights.

•Mother argued she should have been granted improvement period before termination

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed termination of mother's parental rights for failing to protect 10-year-old daughter from sexual abuse

West Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Parental Rights Termination

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights after she failed to protect her 10-year-old daughter from sexual abuse. The court rejected the mother's procedural arguments in a memorandum decision filed January 29, 2026.

•Child disclosed abuse by 'man in black' who was later identified as the mother's brother living in the home

•Mother T.M. lost appeal of parental rights termination after coaching children to fabricate abuse allegations against their father

WV Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights Termination After False Abuse Claims

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights after evidence showed she coached her children to make false abuse allegations against their father. The court rejected the mother's appeal in a memorandum decision filed January 29.

•Nine-year-old child revealed during psychological evaluation that mother instructed her to lie about father's alleged abuse