§ 16-17-134 - Change of venue from lower courts in certain counties to municipal court. - Arkansas Statutes

16-17-134. Change of venue from lower courts in certain counties to municipal court.

Notwithstanding 16-17-218 [Repealed] and 16-19-409 or any other law to the contrary:

(1) (A) In any criminal case brought before any justice of the peace in any township, police court, city court, corporation court, or any court of common pleas in a county with a population between eighty-nine thousand (89,000) persons and one hundred fifty-three thousand (153,000) persons according to the 2000 Federal Decennial Census and wherein a district court exists, the judge shall grant a change of venue to the district court, upon the defendant's motion, without the prepayment or tender of any fees.

(B) Upon filing the motion, the court shall have no further jurisdiction in the case, except for the purpose of preparing a transcript for the district court;

(2) In the event of any change of venue from a justice of the peace, police court, city court, corporation court, or any court of common pleas to a district court in a county with a population between eighty-nine thousand (89,000) persons and one hundred fifty-three thousand (153,000) persons according to the 2000 Federal Decennial Census and wherein more than one (1) district court exists, the case shall be transferred to the district court geographically nearest in the county; and

(3) In no event shall any change of venue lie from any district court in a county with a population between eighty-nine thousand (89,000) persons and one hundred fifty-three thousand (153,000) persons according to the 2000 Federal Decennial Census to any justice of the peace, police court, city court, corporation court, or court of common pleas in criminal cases.