The Arkansas Supreme Court in 2023 and 2024 (from left): Barbara Webb, Rhonda Wood, Karen Baker, Chief Justice Dan Kemp, Courtney Hudson, Shawn Womack and Cody Hiland. Kemp retired in 2024, and Baker was elected chief justice. The other five justices remain on the court, along with new appointee Nicholas Bronni. (Photo courtesy of Arkansas Judiciary)
Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker cited a non-official memo from her predecessor as the basis for her administrative authority in a mass email sent to judicial employees Monday.
Former Chief Justice John Dan Kemp wrote and signed a memo in February 2017, shortly after he was sworn into the role, stating that a majority of the court could not vote to “exercise control over administrative matters” because this would “impair the constitutional authority of the Chief Justice.” He said any such majority vote would be null and void.
Kemp said the memo would be filed in the Supreme Court clerk’s office, but Clerk Kyle Burton confirmed Tuesday that it was never filed.