The Arkansas Supreme Court building in Little Rock. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)
Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker on Wednesday declared invalid two per curiam orders her fellow justices issued in the past week, the latest development in an ongoing dispute over the scope of her authority.
In a 10-page opinion , Baker cited Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 80 , which states in part: “The Supreme Court shall exercise general superintending control over all courts of the state and may temporarily assign judges, with their consent, to courts or divisions other than that for which they were elected or appointed. These functions shall be administered by the Chief Justice . (Emphasis added.)”
Baker said this language gave her sole authority to appoint three new judges to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, which she attempted to do Jan. 1 within half an hour of being sworn in as Arkansas’ first elected female chief justice .