Committee on Criminal Practice

The Supreme Court of Arkansas previously created the Arkansas Committee on Rules of Criminal Procedure, currently known as the Arkansas Committee on Criminal Practice. See In re Sup. Ct. Comm. on Rules of Pleading, Prac., & Proc. in Crim. Cases, 281 Ark. App'x 506 (1983) (per curiam); see also In re Sup. Ct. Comm. on Crim. Prac., 312 Ark. App'x 612 (1993) (per curiam). By subsequent per curiam order, the Court authorized the appointment of up to fifteen members to the Committee. See In re Sup. Ct. Comms. & Bds., 315 Ark. App'x 751 (1993) (per curiam). It has been the Court's longstanding custom and practice to appoint circuit judges, prosecuting attorneys, and criminal defense attorneys from across the state to the Committee. Historically, a circuit judge has served as Chair of the Committee.

Effective March 5, 2026, the Court restructured the Committee. See In re Ark. Sup. Ct. Comm. on Crim. Prac., 2026 Ark. 49 (per curiam). The Committee now consists of fifteen members, which include: five (5) circuit judges who are currently serving in judicial office; five (5) prosecuting attorneys who are currently serving in that office; and five (5) attorneys who are actively engaged in the practice of criminal defense. The Chair of the Committee shall be one of the five circuit judges, appointed by the Court. Members of the Committee shall serve three-year terms and may be reappointed for one additional consecutive three-year term. See In re Sup. Ct. Comms. & Bds., 315 Ark. App'x 751 (1993) (per curiam). The Committee's staggered terms shall expire on January 31 of the applicable calendar year. Id. A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed. Id.

A member who ceases to hold the qualifying office or to actively engage in the qualifying practice shall be deemed to have vacated the position. If a vacancy occurs for any reason, the Court shall appoint a successor to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. Service of more than two years of an unexpired term shall constitute a full term for purposes of the consecutive-term limitation. Service of less than two years of an unexpired term shall not constitute a full term, and the successor may thereafter serve two full consecutive three-year terms.

Consistent with the Court's customs and practices, the Executive Director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission and the Prosecutor Coordinator for the Arkansas Office of Prosecutor Coordinator serve as non-voting ex officio advisors to the Committee. The Administrative Office of the Courts assigns a staff attorney to provide administrative support.