Roberts v. Chandler

Cite as 2015 Ark. 47

SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS No. CR-14-1089

Opinion Delivered February 12, 2015 DERRICK ROBERTS PETITIONER PRO SE PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS V. [COLUMBIA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, NO. 14CR-09-113] HONORABLE LARRY CHANDLER, CIRCUIT JUDGE RESPONDENT PETITION MOOT.

PER CURIAM

Now before us is a pro se petition for writ of mandamus filed here on December 17, 2014, by petitioner Derrick Roberts. On January 14, 2014, petitioner filed in the Columbia County Circuit Court a pro se petition for writ of error coram nobis. In the mandamus petition, petitioner seeks to have Circuit Judge Larry Chandler enter a final order on the coram-nobis petition.

On December 23, 2014, Judge Chandler timely filed a response to the petition in which he stated that he was retiring from the bench on December 31, 2014, at which time the coram-nobis petition would be reassigned. Because the respondent, as of the date of this opinion, is no longer responsible for acting on petitioner’s pending pleading, this mandamus action is moot. Nevertheless, we take this opportunity to note that petitioner’s coram-nobis petition has been pending for more than one year. The reassignment process, if it has not already been completed, should be carried out promptly so that action can be taken on the pleading. The prompt resolution of all matters before a court is vital to the administration of justice. McNichols v. Elmore, 2014 Ark. 133 (per curiam).

Cite as 2015 Ark. 47 Petition moot. Derrick Roberts, pro se petitioner. Dustin McDaniel, Att’y Gen., by: Rebecca Kane, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.