
    Brenna KEESEE v. David KEESEE
    06-1022
    240 S.W.3d 573
    Supreme Court of Arkansas
    Opinion delivered October 5, 2006
    
      
      Lynn F. Plemmons, for appellant.
    No response.
   Per Curiam.

Appellant Brenna Keesee filed a motion for rule on clerk seeking an order of this court directing the Arkansas Supreme Court Clerk to accept her record for filing. Appellant attempted to file her record on September 6, 2006, pursuant to a motion for extension of time to file the record under Arkansas Rules of Appellate Procedure - Civil 5(b), and an order by the circuit court granting an extension to September 9, 2006. The clerk refused the filing because there was no finding in the order by the circuit court that “all parties had the opportunity to be heard on the motion, either at a hearing, or by responding in writing” as required by Rule 5(b)(1)(C).

Arkansas Rules of Appellate Procedure - Civil 5(b)(1)(C) provides in part:

(b) Extension of time.
(1) If any party has designated stenographically reported material for inclusion in the record on appeal, the circuit court, by order entered before expiration of the period ... may extend the time for filing the record only if it makes the following findings:
(C) All parties have had the opportunity to be heard on the motion, either at a hearing or by responding in writingf.] (Emphasis added.)

This court has made it very clear that we expect strict compliance with the requirements of Rule 5(b), and that we do not view the granting of an extension as a mere formality. See, e.g., Woods v. Tapper, 367 Ark. 239, 238 S.W.3d 929 (2006) (per curiam); Hairgrove v. Oden, 365 Ark. 53, 223 S.W.3d 827 (2006) (per curiam). The order of extension in this case makes no reference to the findings of the circuit court required under Rule 5(b)(1)(C). Accordingly, we remand this matter to the circuit judge for compliance with Rule 5(b)(1)(C).

Remanded.  