Summary
The Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1925, it has consisted of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, and at times Special Justices are called upon in the absence of a regular justice. The Justices are elected in a non-partisan election for eight-year-long terms that are staggered to make it unlikely that the entire court would be replaced in a single election. Any vacancy caused by a Justice not finishing his or her term is filled by an appointment made by the Governor of Arkansas.
OnAir Post: AR Judicial Branch
News
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of the Cherokee Nation Businesses and against Gulfside Casino Partnership in a long-running controversial series of legal and regulatory challenges to place a casino in Pope County.
The dispute arises from actions taken soon after voters approved The Arkansas Casino Gaming Amendment, which requires the Racing Commission to issue licenses to Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs, Southland Racing Corporation in West Memphis, and to entities in Pope County and Jefferson County.
The high court’s ruling in Cherokee Nation Businesses and Arkansas Racing Commission vs. Gulfside Casino Partnership focused on which entity was a legal applicant for a casino license.
In layman’s terms, the court declared that until the application process was initiated by the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC), which oversees casino licensing regulation, there could be no applicants.
Wikipedia
| This article is part of the series on the |
| Supreme Court of Arkansas |
|---|
 |
| Current membership |
|
| Lists of justices |
The Supreme Court of Arkansas is the highest court in the state judiciary of Arkansas. It has ultimate and largely discretionary appellate jurisdiction over all state court cases that involve a point of state law, and original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases. The Supreme Court holds the power of judicial review, the ability to invalidate a statute for violating a provision of the Arkansas Constitution. It is also able to strike down gubernatorial directives for violating either the Constitution or statutory law. However, it may act only within the context of a case in an area of law over which it has jurisdiction.
The Superior Court of the Arkansas Territory was established in 1819. It consisted of three judges, and then four from 1828. It was the highest court in the territory, and was succeeded the Supreme Court,[1] established by Article Five of the 1836 Constitution, which was composed of three judges, to include a chief justice, elected to eight-year terms by the General Assembly. As later set by Act 205 of 1925, it consists of the Chief Justice of Arkansas and six associate justices.[2] The Supreme Court currently operates under Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution. Justices are elected in non-partisan elections to eight-year terms, staggered to make it unlikely the Court would be replaced in a single election.[2] Mid-term Vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment.[2]
Each justice has a single vote in deciding the cases argued before the Court.[2]
The Court meets in the Supreme Court Building in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Membership
There are currently seven justices on the Supreme Court: Chief Justice Dan Kemp and six associate justices.
| Position | Name | Born | Joined | Term ends | Mandatory retirement[a] | Appointed by | Law school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Dan Kemp, Chief Justice | September 8, 1951 | January 1, 2017 | 2024 | 2024 | —[b] | Arkansas |
| 3 | Courtney Rae Hudson | 1973 (age 50–51) | January 1, 2011 | 2032 | 2048 | —[b] | Arkansas |
| 6 | Karen R. Baker | 1963 (age 60–61) | January 1, 2011 | 2030 | 2040 | —[b] | UA Little Rock |
| 7 | Rhonda K. Wood | December 10, 1969 | January 1, 2015 | 2030 | 2046 | —[b] | UA Little Rock |
| 5 | Shawn Womack | August 13, 1972 | January 1, 2017 | 2032 | 2048 | —[b] | Arkansas |
| 4 | Barbara Womack Webb | 1956 or 1957 (age 67) | January 1, 2021 | 2028 | 2028 | —[b] | Arkansas |
| 2 | J. Cody Hiland | 1972 (age 51–52) | July 3, 2023 | 2024 | 2048 | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) | UA Little Rock |
Vacancies and pending nominations
| Seat | Seat last held by | Vacancy reason | Date of vacancy | Nominee | Date of nomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Courtney Rae Hudson | Elected to different seat | January 1, 2025 | J. Cody Hiland | December 20, 2024[3] |
| 6 | Karen R. Baker | Elevation | January 1, 2025 | Nicholas Bronni | December 20, 2024[3] |
Further reading
- Distinguishing the Righteous from the Roguish: The Arkansas Supreme Court, 1836–1874 by J. W. Looney, 2016, University of Arkansas Press
References
- ^ Hempstead, Samuel H. (1856). Hempstead's Reports. p. iii-iv.
- ^ a b c d Justices of the Arkansas Supreme Court from the official Arkansas Judiciary website
- ^ a b "Governor Sanders Appoints Jester as Secretary of State, Hiland and Bronni to the Supreme Court" (Press release). Little Rock, Arkansas: Office of the Governor. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
