On January 20, 2015, Pulaski County, Arkansas Circuit Judge Herbert Wright ruled the Arkansas Criminal Eviction Statute (Ark. Code. Ann. § 18-16-101 et. seq.) violated the State and Federal Constitutions in the case of State v. Artoria Smith, 60CR-14-2707. Long hated by social justice activists, the criminal eviction statute was the last of its kind in the United States. Small landlords and landlords who offer properties to lower income Arkansans relied on the statute to avoid costly legal fees and provide a deterrent to tenants who have no intention of paying after gaining occupancy of the premises. The full case docket with links to pdf copies of the motions, briefs and opinions are here. Watch Arkansas real estate and eviction attorney Mark Robinette’s commentary on the Smith decision below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymnt3H4b0XY