Gov. Asa Hutchinson has appointed seven special justices to hear a lawsuit brought by Arkansas Supreme Court justices to challenge recent ethics charges.
Ethics charges have been brought against all seven members of the state Supreme Court over the justices’ handling of a case involving Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen. Last year, the Supreme Court justices suspended Griffen from hearing death penalty cases after he protested executions by lying on a cot outside the Governor’s Mansion.
The Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission filed ethics charges against all of the state Supreme Court justices in late September. Initially, the disciplinary panel only filed charges against six justices – Chief Justice Dan Kemp and Justices Karen Baker, Courtney Goodson, Jo Hart, Rhonda Wood and Robin Wynne. Charges were later filed against Justice Shawn Womack.
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Hutchinson’s appointments for the positions are:
Grant Fortson, Little Rock, as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas. CV-18-861 Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, et al. v. Executive Director David Sachar, et al. Replaces Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, who has disqualified himself from the case.
Bennett Nolan, Fort Smith, as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas. CV-18-861 Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, et al. v. Executive Director David Sachar, et al. Replaces Associate Justice Karen R. Baker, who has disqualified herself from the case.
Walter Cox, Fayetteville, as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas. CV-18-861 Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, et al. v. Executive Director David Sachar, et al. Replaces Associate Justice Courtney Hudson Goodson, who has disqualified herself from the case.
David Curran, Little Rock, as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas. CV-18-861 Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, et al. v. Executive Director David Sachar, et al. Replaces Associate Justice Josephine Linker Hart, who has disqualified herself from the case.
Curtis Hitt, Paragould, as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas. CV-18-861 Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, et al. v. Executive Director David Sachar, et al. Replaces Associate Justice Rhonda K. Wood, who has disqualified herself from the case.
Judge Chalk Mitchell, Helena-West Helena, as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas, CV-18-861 Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, et al. v. Executive Director David Sachar, et al. Replaces Associate Justice Robin F. Wynne, who has disqualified himself from the case.
Janet Moore, Hot Springs, as a Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas, CV-18-861 Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, et al. v. Executive Director David Sachar, et al. Replaces Associate Justice Shawn A. Womack, who has disqualified himself from the case.
Five of the justices have filed the lawsuit to challenge the ethics charges, according to the Associated Press. Justices Goodson and Wynne are reportedly not parties to the suit.
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