Gov. Beebe Appoints Three Special Justices In Judicial Eligibility Cases

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 125 views 

Gov. Mike Beebe appointed three special justices to the Arkansas Supreme Court to fill recusals in cases involving judicial eligibility.

Beebe named:

  • Raymond Abramson, Holly Grove, to replace Justice Paul Danielson;
  • Woody Bassett, Fayetteville, to replaces Justice Karen Baker; and
  • Todd Turner, Arkadelphia, to replace Justice Courtney Goodson.

Justices Baker, Danielson and Goodson all recused from hearing the cases.

The appointees will sit for four cases: Leslie Steen, Clerk v. Angela Byrd; Leslie Steen, Clerk v. Harry G. Foster II; John K. Kelly v. Mark A. Martin et al; and Valerie Bailey v. Mark Martin, Secretary of State, et al.

The crux of the lawsuits online casinos in australia center around several judicial candidates who were late paying their licensing fees for their law licenses. The late payments resulted in suspended licenses until the fees were paid.

The Arkansas Constitution indicates that circuit judges “shall have been licensed attorneys of this state for at least six years immediately preceding the date of assuming office.” For appellate court positions, there is an eight-year provision.

The outcome of the Supreme Court review may determine eligibility for several judicial candidates in this election cycle.