  Recent measurements indicate that the previously established upper limit for
the $\gamma$-decay branch of the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance in $^{12}\textrm{C}$ at
$E_{x} = 9.641(5)$ MeV may be incorrect. As a result, the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance
has been suggested as a significant resonance for mediating the triple-$\alpha$
reaction at high temperatures above 2 GK. Accurate estimations of the
$3_{1}^{-}$ contribution to the triple-$\alpha$ reaction rate require accurate
knowledge of not only the radiative width, but also the total width. In
anticipation of future measurements to more accurately determine the
$\gamma$-decay branch of the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance, the objective of this work
is to accurately determine the total width of the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance. An
evaluation was performed on all previous results considered in the current
ENSDF average of 46(3) keV for the physical total width (FWHM) of the
$3_{1}^{-}$ resonance in $^{12}\textrm{C}$. Significant unaccounted-for
uncertainties and a misstated result were discovered in these previous results,
leading to an invalid ENSDF average. In this work, the new global
\textbf{R}-matrix analysis performed on direct-reaction data yields a formal
total width of $\Gamma(E_{r}) = 46(2)$ keV and an observed total width of
$\Gamma_{\textrm{obs}}(E_{r}) = 38(2)$ keV for the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance. An
observed total width of $\Gamma_{\textrm{obs}}(E_{r}) = 38(2)$ keV is
recommended for the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance in $\mathrm{^{12}C}$. This observed
total width should be employed for future evaluations of the observed total
radiative width for the $3_{1}^{-}$ resonance and its contribution to the
high-temperature triple-$\alpha$ reaction rate.
