The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the wording of Issue 1 — a proposed amendment that would enact sweeping changes to the authority of Arkansas courts — failed to meet constitutional muster and ordered that no votes for or against the measure be counted in the upcoming election.
Justices also rejected a separate lawsuit trying to disqualify a proposal to gradually raise Arkansas' minimum wage from $8.50 an hour to $11 by 2021. Opponents of the proposal had challenged some of the signatures submitted for the initiative.
The 6-1 ruling by the court on Issue 1 affirmed an earlier decision by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce.
Issue 1 was referred to the voters last year by the legislature. It proposed to enact caps on attorneys fees and certain lawsuit damages, while giving legislators final rule making authority over the courts.
The campaign for the issue had already heated up, with millions of dollars raised by competing business and legal groups.
Television spots regarding the issue have also been airing for weeks.
Check back for updates and read Friday's Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.