|
Why Arkansas Court Records are Available to the Public?
In late 1967, the Arkansas State Legislature passed a law named the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. This law is for the last changes in early 2000 and aims to make sure disclosure of court records and other public records to the public.
What Court Records Access Means To You?
The law is similar to the Arkansas Open Meetings Law which monitors the methods by of public meetings. These meetings are held while the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act is to guarantee that the public has access to public records of governmental bodies, and the people’s conduct within.
Accountability to the Public
When the legislature enacted Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, it expressively declared that access to information about the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state, Freedom of Information Act. Indeed, in Arkansas access to the government and court records, in particular, a fundamental interest in citizenship and has emphasized that maxim disclosure of the conduct of governmental operations [is] promoted by the act. By promoting prompt public access to government records, the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act is to safeguard the government’s accountability to the public.
How the Arkansas Court Process Functions?
Most cases in Arkansas courts begin in one of the 75 superior or trial courts in the state’s 75 counties.
The next level of judicial authority resides with the Court of Appeals. Most cases before the Court of Appeals involves the review of a superior court decision being contested by a party involved in the case.
The Supreme Court serves as the highest court in the state and has authority to check decisions of the Court of Appeals to settle important questions of law and to resolve conflicts among the Court of Appeals.
Some differences between Civil Court and Small Claims Court below
|