
    Michael Justin DRAKE v. STATE of Arkansas
    CR 07-1338
    271 S.W.3d 525
    Supreme Court of Arkansas
    Opinion delivered January 17, 2008
    
      Robert R. Cortinez, Sr., for appellant.
    No response.
   Per Curiam.

Appellant Michael Justin Drake, by and through his attorney, has filed a motion for rule on the court, which we will treat as a motion for rule on the clerk. His attorney, Robert R. Cortinez, Sr., states in the motion that, due to a mistake in his part, the order granting a motion for an extension of time to file the record fails to comply with the requirements of Ark. R. App. P.-Civil 5 (2007).

This court clarified its treatment of motions for rule on clerk and motions for belated appeals in McDonald v. State, 356 Ark. 106, 146 S.W.3d 883 (2004). There we stated that there are only two possible reasons for an appeal not being timely perfected: either the party or attorney filing the appeal is at fault, or there is “good reason.” Id. at 116, 146 S.W.3d at 891. We explained:

Where an appeal is not timely perfected, either the party or attorney filing the appeal is at fault, or there is good reason that the appeal was not timely perfected. The party or attorney filing the appeal is therefore faced with two options. First, where the party or attorney filing the appeal is at fault, fault should be admitted by affidavit filed with the motion or in the motion itself. There is no advantage in declining to admit fault where fault exists. Second, where the party or attorney believes that there is good reason the appeal was not perfected, the case for good reason can be made in the motion, and this court will decide whether good reason is present.

Id., 146 S.W.3d at 891 (footnote omitted). While this court no longer requires an affidavit admitting fault before we will consider the motion, an attorney should candidly admit fault where he has erred and is responsible for the failure to perfect the appeal. See id.

In accordance with McDonald v. State, supra, Mr. Cortinez has candidly admitted fault. The motion for rule on the clerk is, therefore, granted. A copy of this opinion will be forwarded to the Committee on Professional Conduct.

Motion granted.  