In a recent opinion issued on Friday, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin attempted to clarify the constitutionality of Act 24 of 2025, which addresses the payment of county judges and justices of the peace in the absence of an annual appropriation ordinance passed by the quorum court.
The opinion, prepared by Assistant Attorney General William R. Olson, concludes that both the county judge and justices of the peace are entitled to back pay once the ordinance is adopted.
The inquiry was initiated by Kyle Hunter, prosecuting attorney for the Eleventh-West Judicial District, who sought clarification on whether Act 24 of 2025 conflicts with the Arkansas Constitution. The act stipulates that county judges and justices of the peace will not receive their salaries or per diem compensation until the quorum court passes an annual appropriation ordinance…