Arkansas Supreme Court
Arkansas Supreme Court |
---|
Court Information |
Justices: 7 |
Founded: 1836 |
Location: Little Rock |
Salary |
Associates: $203,625[1] |
Judicial Selection |
Method: Nonpartisan elections |
Term: 8 years |
Active justices |
Karen R. Baker, Nicholas Bronni, Cody Hiland, Courtney Rae Hudson, Barbara Webb, Shawn Womack, Rhonda Wood |
Founded in 1836, the Arkansas Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Karen R. Baker.
As of January 2025, five judges on the court were elected in nonpartisan elections. Two judges were appointed by a Republican governor.
The Arkansas Supreme Court meets in Little Rock, Arkansas. The court typically sits for a term beginning the first week of September and ending the first week of July.[2]
In Arkansas, state supreme court justices are elected in nonpartisan elections. There are 13 states that use this selection method. To read more about the nonpartisan election of judges, click here.
Jurisdiction
Article 7, Section 4 of the Arkansas Constitution describes the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. This section was later amended by Amendment 80, Section 2.
The court has appellate jurisdiction. It may transfer a case from lower courts in certain circumstances or bring special proceedings to the higher court as outlined in Article VI. The court also has a supervisory role over all other courts in the state, over the conduct of attorneys, and over the practice of law within the state.[3]
The supreme court also has authority to regulate the practice of law and the professional conduct of attorneys, the power to determine appellate jurisdiction of the court of appeals, and the power to determine reassignment of cases. The following types of cases are appealed directly to the supreme court from circuit, chancery, and probate courts: all cases involving interpretation of the state constitution; death penalty or life imprisonment appeals; certain petitions directed to state, county, or municipal officials, or to circuit, chancery, or probate courts; appeals regarding election procedures or elections; appeals regarding attorney discipline or the power of the court to regulate the practice of law; appeals regarding discipline or disability of judges; appeals following an appeal decided by the supreme court; any other cases required by law.[4]
The following text from Amendment 80, Section 2 of the Arkansas Constitution covers the organization and jurisdiction of the court:[5]
“ |
(A) The Supreme Court shall be composed of seven Justices, one of whom shall serve as Chief Justice. The Justices of the Supreme Court shall be selected from the State at large. (B) The Chief Justice shall be selected for that position in the same manner as the other Justices are selected. During any temporary period of absence or incapacity of the Chief Justice, an acting Chief Justice shall be selected by the Court from among the remaining justices. (C) The concurrence of at least four justices shall be required for a decision in all cases. (D) The Supreme Court shall have: (1) Statewide appellate jurisdiction; (2) Original jurisdiction to issue writs of quo warranto to all persons holding judicial office, and to officers of political corporations when the question involved is the legal existence of such corporations; (3) Original jurisdiction to answer questions of state law certified by a court of the United States, which may be exercised pursuant to Supreme Court rule; (4) Original jurisdiction to determine sufficiency of state initiative and referendum petitions and proposed constitutional amendments; and (5) Only such other original jurisdiction as provided by this Constitution. (E) The Supreme Court shall have power to issue and determine any and all writs necessary in aid of its jurisdiction and to delegate to its several justices the power to issue such writs. (F) The Supreme Court shall appoint its clerk and reporter. (G) The sessions of the Supreme Court shall be held at such times and places as may be adopted by Supreme Court rule. [6] |
” |
Justices
The table below lists the current judges of the Arkansas Supreme Court, their political party, and when they assumed office.
Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
---|---|---|---|
Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice | Karen R. Baker | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2025 |
Arkansas Supreme Court Position 2 | Courtney Rae Hudson | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2025 |
Arkansas Supreme Court Position 3 | Cody Hiland | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2025 |
Arkansas Supreme Court Position 4 | Barbara Webb | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2021 |
Arkansas Supreme Court Position 5 | Shawn Womack | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2017 |
Arkansas Supreme Court Position 6 | Nicholas Bronni | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2025 |
Arkansas Supreme Court Position 7 | Rhonda Wood | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2015 |
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Arkansas
The seven justices on the Arkansas Supreme Court are selected through nonpartisan elections. They compete in nonpartisan general elections—occurring at the same time as the primary elections for other state officials—in which the candidate who receives more than 50 percent of the vote wins the seat. If no candidate garners a majority of the vote, the top two candidates compete in a runoff during the November general election.[7]
The winners are elected to eight-year terms. Sitting justices must run for re-election at the expiration of their terms.[7]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a justice must be:[8]
- at least 18 years old;
- a U.S. citizen and state resident;
- licensed to practice law in Arkansas for at least eight years;
- registered to vote; and
- a qualified elector within the geographic area from which chosen.
Chief justice
The court's chief justice is selected by voters at large and serves in that capacity for a full eight-year term.[9]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, an interim judge is selected by the governor to fill the empty seat. If the open seat would have been filled at the next general election if the vacancy did not occur, the appointed justice will serve the remainder of the unexpired term. If the open seat would not have been regularly filled at the next general election, the appointee will serve until the next general election if the vacancy occurred more than four months prior to the election. If the vacancy occurs less than four months prior to the next general election, then the justice will serve until the second succeeding general election.[7]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Position 2
General election
Special general election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 2
Incumbent Courtney Rae Hudson defeated Carlton D. Jones in the special general election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 2 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Courtney Rae Hudson (Nonpartisan) | 60.3 | 189,087 | |
Carlton D. Jones (Nonpartisan) | 39.7 | 124,619 |
Total votes: 313,706 | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Position 5
General election
The general election was canceled. Shawn Womack (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
Judges not on the ballot
- Dan Kemp (Chief Justice)
- Cody Hiland (Position 2)
2022
- See also: Arkansas Supreme Court elections, 2022
Candidates and results
Position 2
General runoff election
General runoff election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 2
Incumbent Robin Wynne defeated Chris Carnahan in the general runoff election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 2 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Robin Wynne (Nonpartisan) | 58.4 | 450,094 | |
Chris Carnahan (Nonpartisan) | 41.6 | 321,123 |
Total votes: 771,217 | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
General election
General election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 2
Incumbent Robin Wynne and Chris Carnahan advanced to a runoff. They defeated David Sterling in the general election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 2 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Robin Wynne (Nonpartisan) | 49.5 | 202,815 | |
✔ | Chris Carnahan (Nonpartisan) | 28.8 | 117,859 | |
David Sterling (Nonpartisan) | 21.7 | 88,938 |
Total votes: 409,612 | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Position 6
General election
General election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 6
Incumbent Karen R. Baker defeated Gunner DeLay in the general election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 6 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Karen R. Baker (Nonpartisan) | 64.0 | 262,043 | |
Gunner DeLay (Nonpartisan) | 36.0 | 147,481 |
Total votes: 409,524 | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Position 7
General election
The general election was canceled. Rhonda Wood (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
2020
- See also: Arkansas Supreme Court elections, 2020
Candidates and results
Position 4
General election
General election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 4
Barbara Webb defeated Morgan Welch in the general election for Arkansas Supreme Court Position 4 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Barbara Webb (Nonpartisan) | 53.6 | 245,736 | |
Morgan Welch (Nonpartisan) | 46.4 | 212,443 |
Total votes: 458,179 | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Justices not on the ballot
- Josephine Hart (Position 4)
2018
- See also: Arkansas Supreme Court elections, 2018
Candidates and results
Position 3
Runoff election