The Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled that Laura “Missy” Wardlaw can remain on the March primary ballot for House District 94, affirming an earlier decision by a Pulaski County circuit judge.
In January, the circuit judge ruled in favor of Wardlaw, a Republican from Hermitage, finding she should not be disqualified from running for office. The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by GOP primary opponent John Day, who argued Wardlaw was ineligible because of a 2018 hot check case.
Day contended that the case amounted to a disqualifying offense under Article 5, Section 9 of the Arkansas Constitution, which bars individuals convicted of “embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery, or other infamous crime” from holding public office.
However, the circuit judge determined that the constitutional provision requires a conviction and found that no conviction occurred in Wardlaw’s case. The judge ordered Jan. 13 that Wardlaw’s name remain on ballots in the three counties within District 94.
In its Feb. 11 decision, the Arkansas Supreme Court agreed, ruling that bond forfeiture does not constitute a conviction and that Wardlaw is eligible to appear on the March primary ballot.
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