Whitney v. Kelley
Whitney v. Kelley
Opinion
Appellant James Edward Whitney appeals the denial by the circuit court of his petition to proceed in forma pauperis with respect to Whitney's pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus. Now before us is Whitney's motion, entitled "Notice and Advisement," in which he seeks leave to file a brief on appeal that does not conform to the rules of this court. Because we find that it is clear from the record that further findings from the circuit court are necessary for our review, the matter is remanded to the circuit court. The motion to file a nonconforming brief is moot inasmuch a new briefing schedule will be set when the remand is returned.
The initial order setting the initial filing fee was entered on June 29, 2017. It was set aside in an order entered April 9, 2018, in which the court held that Whitney had established that he was indigent, but he had failed to state a colorable cause of action in the habeas petition. For that reason, he was required to submit the filing fee for the petition.
Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 72 (2017) governs our review of a decision to grant or deny a petition to proceed in forma pauperis in a civil case.
Gardner v. Kelley
,
*210
In
Gardner
, the circuit court found only that petitioner had failed to allege facts that would support a colorable cause of action because he did not raise a claim in the submitted petition that was cognizable in habeas proceedings.
We pointed out in
Gardner
that the circuit court is required under Rule 72 to enter specific findings on a petitioner's indigency before addressing issues as to whether the petitioner had stated a colorable claim.
Accordingly, we remand to the circuit court for a supplemental order on the in forma pauperis petition that contains adequate findings of fact and complies with Rule 72. The order must include findings on Whitney's indigency and address the basis for its conclusion that the habeas petition failed to set forth a cognizable claim. The order is to be entered, and the supplemental record containing the order is to be returned within thirty days from the date of this opinion. Once the supplemental record is received, a copy of it will be provided to Whitney and a new briefing schedule will be set for the appeal.
Remanded for additional findings; motion moot.
Kemp, C.J., and Wood, J., dissent.
Before the court is Whitney's pro se motion to accept his tendered brief. I would grant his motion and accept his brief for filing. Currently, there are no briefs filed before this court. Nevertheless, the majority reviews the record for the circuit court's order and remands for the circuit court to make specific findings as to why Whitney's claim did not state a colorable cause of action. Because Rule 72 does not require the circuit court to make specific findings on its colorable-cause-of-action analysis, I dissent.
Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 72(c) (2017) only requires the circuit court to make "a finding regarding indigency." It does not require the circuit court to make specific findings on whether the claim states a colorable cause of action. Although in
Gardner
this court remanded for a specific finding on whether the claim identified a colorable cause of action, we also remanded for findings on the petitioner's indigency.
Gardner v. Kelley
,
Kemp, C.J., joins in this opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- James Edward WHITNEY, Appellant v. Wendy KELLEY, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction, Appellee
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published