The 95th Arkansas General Assembly is nearing completion of its 2026 fiscal session. One of the matters under consideration is contained in an April 1, 2026, letter from the Arkansas Court of Appeals requesting $30,000 in additional funds "to supplement its current $360,000 legal-counsel appropriation."
These funds are "used to award modest attorney's fees to attorneys appointed to represent indigent appellants in direct criminal appeals...." The Court of Appeals noted a "substantial increase" in the number of fee awards this fiscal year.
Thus far in fiscal year 2026, the court of appeals has awarded attorney's fees 132 times totaling $289,109.75. By comparison, the court had awarded fees 96 times totaling $225,054.71 on April 1, 2025.
The Court of Appeals anticipates that its criminal caseload will remain "steady and heavy." These additional funds are requested to ensure fee payments through the current fiscal year; the next fiscal year starts on July 1, 2026.
If you would like to read the letter, it is the second page of this document: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FAssembly%2FMeeting+Attachments%2F005%2F27876%2FB.+vta.pdf
This request was approved by the legislature's Joint Budget Committee this morning, without comment or dissent. I am not certain if any additional approval is needed, but I do not think it is.
This letter provides a glimpse into the Court of Appeals' operations and case load. And if you accept these appointments and are about to file a fee petition, approval of the letter's request is also good news.
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