Justice Courtney Goodson Officially Kicking Off Chief Justice Campaign This Weekend

Invitations are in the mail and a campaign launch is underway.

Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson will kick off her campaign for Chief Justice of the state’s high court beginning this weekend.

Goodson will host a tailgate at the Razorback football season opener against UTEP on Saturday in Fayetteville. She will also have a reception in Saline County next Tuesday.

There has also been the launch of a new campaign web site – CourtneyForArkansas.com – which features a minute-long video of Goodson outlining her reasons for running. You can watch the video at the end of this post.

“The power of the Supreme Court does not rest with the justices, it rests with you, the people,” Goodson says in the video.

In a statement to Talk Business & Politics, Goodson added, “The public’s confidence in all our institutions has been called into question the last few years and it’s time our Supreme Court makes it a priority to restore the public’s trust in the rule of law.”

Goodson promised a grassroots, people-focused campaign. “I’ve never been a favorite of the legal establishment. But I don’t work for them, I work for the people,” Goodson said. “I will work every day to earn this victory and earn the trust of the people of this state. This court and this job belong to them.”

Goodson has served on the state’s highest court since 2010 after serving two years on the Arkansas Court of Appeals from the third district. A native of Northwest Arkansas, Goodson earned an undergraduate degree and a law degree, both with high honors, from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Former Chief Justice Jim Hannah stepped down effective Monday (Aug. 31) from the post due to an undisclosed illness. Howard Brill will serve out the remainder of his term, but he is prohibited from challenging for the seat.

No other candidates have publicly expressed an interest in running for the Chief Justice seat.