ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

PER CURIAM

May 22, 2003

JOE COPELAND

Appellant

v.

STATE OF ARKANSAS

Appellee

CR 03-180

PRO SE MOTION FOR BELATED APPEAL OF ORDER AND REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF NEW COUNSEL [CIRCUIT COURT OF SEVIER COUNTY, NO. CR 98-54]

MOTION FOR BELATED APPEAL MOOT; REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF NEW COUNSEL DENIED

Joe Copeland filed a petition for postconviction relief pursuant to Criminal Procedure Rule 37.1 in circuit court that was denied. An appeal was not perfected, and Copeland's attorney, Norman Cox, filed a motion for belated appeal here with a request that other counsel be appointed. We granted the motion for belated appeal but denied Mr. Cox's request to be relieved. Copeland v. State, 352 Ark. ___, 99 S.W.3d 426 (2003).

Shortly after counsel's motion for belated appeal was granted, appellant Copeland filed the instant pro se motion also asking to be permitted to proceed with a belated appeal. The motion is moot inasmuch as counsel's motion has already been granted and the appeal is proceeding.

Appellant also asks in the pro se motion that Mr. Cox be relieved as counsel and other counsel appointed. The request is based on appellant's mistaken belief that the appeal has not

been perfected and that he is not represented by counsel. As the appeal is in progress and appellant has stated no good cause to relieve Mr. Cox, the request is denied.

Motion for belated appeal moot; request for appointment of new counsel denied.

Corbin, J., not participating.