Ward v. State

Appellee moves the Court to seal portions of the record and portions of appellant’s brief containing copies of photographs showing nude minors. The State argues that public inspection could place the minors at risk of embarrassment or exploitation. In support of its motion, the State cites Arkansas Dep’t of Human Servs. v. Hardy, 316 Ark. 119, 871 S.W.2d 352 (1994), which deals with whether authority exists to seal a final order. The holding in Hardy was limited to the facts of that case.

We have recognized the inherent authority of the trial court to control court records, and, thus, the…