Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the website called "Callahan"?
When the website was created in late 2001 it was not initially devoted to the 'West Memphis 3' case and neither was it intended to be. The name "Callahan" was meant as a homage to the Clint Eastwood character "Dirty Harry." So why not just change the website's name now that it has become a WM3 document archive? Well, there's over 11.000 files (images, indices of images, transcripts, audio, etc.) on the website and it would take an eternity to upload them to a new website, so the "Callahan" name is here to stay.

Who is behind the website?
We're Greg, Christian, and Monte. Although Greg and Christian are supporters of the WM3, and Monte isn't, the website doesn't contain our opinions about the case.

What is your connection to the case?
None. We're lay persons who have no connection to the case whatsoever.

Who are all the names on the "Credits" list?
The names are obviously not someone's real name. It's monikers used by members of the WM3 Discussion Board (and/or other message boards) who have helped by either obtaining: documents from the West Memphis Police Department's evidence file; trial transcripts; photos; newspaper articles; or helped transcribe said documents and trial transcripts from audio.

Are the trial transcripts official?
The vast majority of the two trials have been transcribed from MP3 audio files. The official transcript differs slightly from the audio recordings, as all words and sentences were not taken down by the court reporter. All entries where "Images" are available are official, the only exception being Echols' Rule 37 hearing. All transcriptions of Echols' Rule 37 hearing are from the official transcipt.

Is the Trial Transcripts page complete?
As far as pretrial hearings and the two trial themselves, we're pretty close to complete. As far as post-trial hearings, we have Echols' complete Rule 37 hearing, but nothing at all on Baldwin's and Misskelley's Rule 37 hearings.

Why are there two transcriptions of Jessie Misskelley's two June 3 statements?
The first transcription is the offical transcript, i.e. the one that was used in court. The second, labeled (2), is a more accurate transcription performed by Jivepuppi by going over the audio tape line by line.

What does the search engine search?
The search engine searches text only. It does not search images (jpg, gif), nor does it search PDF or .doc files. That means that those documents, transcripts, motions, etc. that hasn't been transcribed will not be included among the results. Furthermore, since nearly all of the newspaper articles on the "Press Coverage" page are not hosted on this website but rather is linked to outside sources, these articles will not be searched either.

What is an "Abstract" on the Trial Transcripts page?
An abstract is a legal document drafted by the defense attorneys, reviewed for accuracy by the prosecution and submitted to the Appellate Court. The purpose of an abstract is to give the appellate judges a condensed reference tool so they can review the testimonies and arguments of a case without having to read a trial's complete transcript. Straightforward, non-controversial testimony is usually pared down to a few lines, but crucial testimony or testimony that is related to important issues under appeal is usually presented in great detail, often word for word. The format of an abstract renders a witness's testimony into the first person.
Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-2(a)(5) governs the preparation of abstracts:
http://courts.state.ar.us/rules/supremeart4.html#4-2

What does "Pleadings" mean?
Pleadings refer to any documents filed with a court in connection with a case. That would include motions, orders, discovery, complaints, answers, subpoenas etc.

Is the Pleadings page complete?
No. The Pleadings listed are the ones that have been obtained. There have been far more filed both pretrial and post-trial.

What is a "Rule 37 Hearing"?
From Arkansas Attorney General website - Appellate Procedure Following a Conviction at Trial:
After a defendant’s conviction has been affirmed, he or she may choose to file a petition for post-conviction relief in the trial court. These are commonly called "Rule 37" petitions, because they are authorized by Rule 37 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure. In a Rule 37 petition, the defendant raises claims that, if valid, could entitle him or her to a new trial for reasons other than the claims of trial error raised on appeal. Most often, a Rule 37 petition asserts that the defendant’s trial attorney made errors that deprived the defendant of effective legal counsel at trial.
The trial court will often hold a hearing before deciding a Rule 37 petition, and the prosecuting attorney’s office represents the State at the hearing. If the trial court denies a Rule 37 petition, the defendant may appeal that decision to the Arkansas Supreme Court or to the Arkansas Court of Appeals. The Attorney General’s Office will again represent the State while the case is on appeal.

What is a "Denno Hearing"?
The word "Denno" comes from the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368 (1964). In Denno, the New York procedure was to leave the determination of voluntariness of confessions to the juries. The U.S. Supreme Court found that procedure violated due process and held that a defendant was entitled to a hearing to determine voluntariness. Furthermore, Denno hearings are for anything on which the court is required to make a determination outside the province of the jury, such as admissibility of testimony, qualification of experts, etc.

What does "in camera" mean?
From LectLaw:
IN CAMERA - Lat. 'in chambers.' Refers to a hearing or inspection of documents that takes places in private, often in a judge's chambers. Depending on the circumstances, these can be either on or off the record, though they're usually recorded.
In camera hearings often take place concerninging delicate evidenciary matters, to shield a jury from bias caused by certain matters, or to protect the privacy of the people involved and are common in cases of guardianships, adoptions and custody disputes alleging child abuse.

How do I open PDF files?
You will need Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view these files. It's free and can be downloaded at the Adobe.com website.




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