Lamiesha Toney v. State of Arkansas

Cite as 2025 Ark. App. 3
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION I
No. CR-22-716

Opinion Delivered January 15, 2025
LAMIESHA TONEY
APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE JEFFERSON
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
V. [NO. 35CR-20-337]

HONORABLE ALEX GUYNN,
STATE OF ARKANSAS JUDGE
APPELLEE
REBRIEFING ORDERED; MOTION TO
WITHDRAW DENIED

N. MARK KLAPPENBACH, Chief Judge

Lamiesha Toney appeals her convictions in the Jefferson County Circuit Court for

second-degree murder and first-degree battery. Pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738

(1967), and Rule 4-3(b) of the Rules of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals,

Toney’s attorney has filed a motion to withdraw and a no-merit brief asserting that there are

no issues of arguable merit to raise on appeal. Toney was notified of her right to file pro se

points for reversal, but she has not filed any such points. Because Toney’s counsel’s no-merit

brief is not in compliance with Anders and Rule 4-3(b), we order rebriefing and deny counsel’s

motion to withdraw.

Rule 4-3(b)(1) requires that the argument section of a no-merit brief contain “a list of

all rulings adverse to the defendant made by the circuit court on all objections, motions and
requests made by either party with an explanation as to why each adverse ruling is not a

meritorious ground for reversal.” Generally speaking, if a no-merit brief fails to address all

the adverse rulings, rebriefing will be required. Jeffries v. State, 2022 Ark. App. 274. The

requirement for briefing every adverse ruling ensures that the due-process concerns in Anders

are met and prevents the unnecessary risk of a deficient Anders brief, resulting in an incorrect

decision on counsel’s motion to withdraw. Id. Pursuant to Anders, we are required to

determine whether the case is wholly frivolous after a full examination of all the proceedings.

Id.

The record demonstrates that counsel failed to address at least one adverse ruling.

During the cross-examination of Toney’s codefendant, defense counsel, who represented

both Toney and her codefendant, made a relevancy objection to a question about the name

of a tire shop. The objection was overruled. Counsel has failed to explain why this adverse

ruling would not be meritorious grounds for reversal on appeal. Furthermore, although

counsel has addressed the denial of Toney’s motions for directed verdict, he fails to note the

arguments made in the directed-verdict motion after the State’s initial response. He has also

failed to adequately address whether the motions preserved a challenge to the elements of

the lesser-included offense of which Toney was ultimately convicted. See Davis v. State, 362

Ark. 34, 39, 207 S.W.3d 474, 478–79 (2005) (holding that a directed-verdict motion was

sufficient to preserve a challenge to the lesser-included offense because it is not necessary to

specifically state the lesser-included offense by name as long as the elements of that lesser-

included offense are addressed in the directed-verdict motion).
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The deficiencies we have noted may not be the only ones, and counsel is encouraged

to review Anders and Rule 4-3(b) for the requirements of a no-merit brief. Counsel has fifteen

days from the date of this opinion to file a substituted brief that complies with the rules.

After counsel has filed the substituted brief, our clerk will forward counsel’s motion and

brief to Toney, and she will have thirty days within which to raise pro se points in accordance

with Rule 4-3(b). The State will likewise be given an opportunity to file a responsive brief if

pro se points are made.

Rebriefing ordered; motion to withdraw denied.

HARRISON and MURPHY, JJ., agree.

Jeremy D. Wann, for appellant.

One brief only.

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