Surridge v. State

James Surridge was convicted in the Circuit Court of Desha County of first degree murder. He was sentenced to a term of 50 years imprisonment in the Arkansas Department of Correction. Retained trial counsel, John Belew, filed a timely notice of appeal on July 24,1981, and secured Surridge’s release from custody on bail. Surridge was subsequently arrested for bank robbery and his bail was revoked.

Belew filed a motion with us on March 22, 1982, to be relieved as counsel and tendered a partial record. The clerk refused to accept it as untimely, and we denied the motion to be relieved. We said…