Hutchinson Appoints Three Special Justices In Same-sex Marriage Case

Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed three special justices to the state’s Supreme Court to hear a case involving same-sex marriage in Arkansas.

An appeal has been pending at the Arkansas Supreme Court since last year when a furor erupted after a lower court ruling declared same-sex marriages constitutional. Higher court rulings stayed that decision.

Since then, a debate has ensued as to which justices can hear the lawsuit, either specially appointed justices from last year’s high court or newly elected members to the state Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court recusals center on the case that will determine which justices can participate in the gay marriage appeal.

Hutchinson named Brett Watson of Searcy, as Special Associate Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court to replace Chief Justice Jim Hannah, who has disqualified himself from the case.

Judge Betty Dickey of Heber Springs will replace Justice Rhonda Wood and Judge Shawn Womack of Mountain Home will replace Justice Paul Danielson. Wood and Danielson also recused from the case.