Dennis Milligan has $400 million. Some might be yours.

State government

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

It’s not every day that a man tells you he has $400 million to get rid of, and he needs your help to do it. That happened to me at the State Capitol Feb. 21.

The man was Dennis Milligan, the Arkansas state auditor. The $400 million is the total value of all the unclaimed properties the state is trying to return to its rightful owners through “The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt.” 

One in four Arkansans have property in the state’s possession. The auditor’s office has more than a million properties to dispense. The properties come from a variety of sources – an inheritance, a deserted bank account, a safety deposit box that somebody forgot about, etc. If a final paycheck never made it to somebody, banks are obligated to turn the money over to the auditor’s office. 

One woman got $1.4 million

“I gave a lady $1.4 million in Hot Springs the other day that her dad had left her through stocks that she didn’t even know about,” he said. “And that’s not the norm, but there’s plenty of $80, $150, $200. And again, it comes from old utility deposits. I’ve got Rolex watches. I’ve got war medals in our vault that again were taken out of safety deposit boxes and ultimately ended up in my hands.” Continue reading Dennis Milligan has $400 million. Some might be yours. →

A better way to elect Supreme Court justices?

Elections

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? →

Supreme Court race: Moving laterally versus moving up

Elections

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 →

Four vie for chief justice, or at least the runoff

Elections

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 →