Arkansas Supreme Court Reinstates Murder Convict Petition
The court directed a lower court to review if an inmate exercised due diligence in a missed filing deadline.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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The Arkansas Supreme Court has reinstated a petition from Tarus Walker, who is serving life without parole for a 2022 murder. Walker claims his trial counsel was ineffective, but his initial petition was dismissed for being 24 days late.
Why it matters
The ruling requires the Miller County Circuit Court to determine if Walker qualifies for equitable tolling, a legal exception that can excuse late filings if a prisoner acted with reasonable diligence. This decision highlights the procedural hurdles inmates face when challenging legal representation from prison.
Tarus Walker filed his petition 24 days past the 60-day deadline, leading to a February 2026 dismissal by Circuit Judge Carlton Jones. The case is now remanded to Miller County to evaluate if Walker's actions constitute reasonable diligence.
The players
Tarus Walker
He is an inmate currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the Cummins Unit.
Aaron Bruce
He was the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred at the Brookhollow Apartments in Texarkana.
Carlton Jones
He serves as a Miller County Circuit Judge who initially dismissed the petition for being late.
Nathaniel Fort
He was convicted in February 2024 for his role in the same murder incident and is serving life without parole.
The details
Walker, who is serving time at the Cummins Unit, submitted his initial petition to a corrections sergeant on November 21, 2025, but the document lacked required notarization. The resulting rejection prevented it from being processed by the circuit clerk within the necessary timeframe.
Timeline
December 25, 2022: Aaron Bruce was killed at Brookhollow Apartments.
February 2024: Tarus Walker and Nathaniel Fort were convicted.
December 1, 2025: Deadline for filing the Rule 37 petition.
February 2026: Circuit Judge Carlton Jones dismissed the petition.
October 22, 2026: Arkansas Supreme Court issued the ruling.
Legal Context
The ruling clarifies how Arkansas courts apply equitable tolling to procedural timelines established under Arkansas Rule of Criminal Procedure 37. This decision follows a broader trend of state courts navigating the balance between strict filing deadlines and an inmate's constitutional right to post-conviction relief.
The case underscores the specific procedural standards that govern how criminal convictions are challenged in Arkansas courts. Residents of Miller County can track the upcoming circuit court proceedings to see how the local judiciary applies these standards in practice.
The takeaway
This case illustrates the critical importance of strictly adhering to procedural requirements when filing legal petitions from custody. Even minor administrative errors can lead to the summary dismissal of significant claims regarding ineffective counsel.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings, visit the Criminal Justice section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Texarkana Today.
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