By Steve Brawner. © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Arkansans this year are voting to fill two positions on the Arkansas Supreme Court, including the chief justice. And let’s be honest: Most voters are deciding based on limited information or by outright guessing. 

Is there a better way? Maybe. Perhaps voters should be more like jurors.

Judicial elections don’t make it easy for voters to make informed choices. Candidates don’t run with party labels. They are compelled by judicial ethics to avoid saying how they might rule in cases so as not to prejudice themselves. Instead, they are limited to using descriptive words like “conservative,” touting their backgrounds, and offering ideas about improving the justice system. It’s basically a billboard campaign. 

Moreover, this year’s candidates, as is usually the case, have not raised enough money to wage major campaigns. What money they do raise may come from lawyers and others who could have cases come before the court. Sometimes outside groups run their own independent campaigns to smear one of the candidates. Continue reading A better way to elect Supreme Court justices? →

By Steve Brawner. © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

The race for Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 2 pits a current justice seeking to make a lateral move against a Texarkana circuit judge seeking to move up.

Supreme Court Justice Courtney Hudson faces Judge Carlton Jones in the March 5 primary. The statewide, nonpartisan race will be on every voter’s ballot whether they vote in the Republican, Democratic or nonpartisan primary.

The winner will occupy the seat previously held by the late Justice Robin Wynne and now held by Justice Cody Hiland. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Hiland to take Wynne’s place upon his death. Continue reading Supreme Court race: Moving laterally versus moving up →

By Steve Brawner, © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

There aren’t many competitive races in this year’s primary elections, which end March 5. Two are for seats on the Arkansas Supreme Court: chief justice and position 2. 

Today we’ll focus on the chief justice race, which is open because the current officeholder, Dan Kemp, would have to give up his retirement benefits if he ran again. Arkansas levies that financial penalty against judges elected after age 70.

Campaigning for that office are three current justices: Barbara Webb, Rhonda Wood and Karen Baker; and attorney Jay Martin. With four candidates, it seems likely the top two will face each other in the November runoff.

Judicial elections are nonpartisan, and candidates aren’t supposed to take positions on specific issues so they don’t prejudice themselves if they later hear a related case. Candidates can tout their biographies, describe their philosophies in general terms, and offer ideas for improving the court system itself. Continue reading Four vie for chief justice, or at least the runoff →

By Steve Brawner, © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Which U.S. Supreme Court justices do the candidates for Arkansas Supreme Court most align with? I asked all of them that question. 

Those include the four in this year’s chief justice race including three current associate justices: Barbara Webb, Rhonda Wood and Karen Baker; along with attorney Jay Martin. The Associate Justice Position 2 race features Justice Courtney Hudson and Circuit Judge Carlton Jones. Voting continues through March 5.

The exact question I asked was: “Which U.S. Supreme Court justice, current or otherwise, most aligns with your judicial philosophy?” The Family Council in the past has asked that question, or something similar, for its voter guide. I lifted the idea.

I asked the candidates to be brief but did not give them a word count. Here’s what they wrote. Continue reading Court candidates asked about their most-like U.S. justices →