Arkansas Bar Association debates ending Supreme Court races

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     (AP) – The Arkansas Bar Association says it plans to discuss
whether to push for a constitutional amendment to end the practice of electing
state Supreme Court justices.
     The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that a draft was released Monday
outlining a plan for the governor to appoint justices to nonrenewable 14-year
terms starting in 2019. Currently, the Arkansas' seven Supreme Court justices
are elected statewide to eight-year terms and can run for re-election.
     A bar association task force noted in a statement the influence of large,
out-of-state contributions in three recent Supreme Court elections.
     Bar president Denise Hoggard says the plan will go before the organization's
governing body on Dec. 16.
     The Arkansas Judicial Council, composed of the state's judges, voted in
October in favor of continuing to elect justices.

   

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