Six of the seven members of the state Supreme Court had formal ethics charges filed against them Thursday by the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, which was investigating the high court’s decision to strip Pulaski County Judge Wendell Griffen of his ability to hear death penalty cases.
The commission found that the justices did not give Griffen a “sufficient” ability to respond to petition filed in April 2017 by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s office, which said Griffen “cannot be considered remotely impartial on issues related to the death penalty.”
The petition, and the court’s decision, came after Griffen had issued a ruling that temporary halted the state’s plan to carry out a series of executions that month.
The same day Griffen issued the order, he participated in a protest against the death penalty outside the Governor’s Mansion, sparking outcries from many supporters of capitol punishment.
The commission, a judicial watchdog, has also filed ethics charged against Griffen for his protest. That case is pending after Griffen failed to get the charges against him dropped.
Griffen filed his own complaint against the Supreme Court justices, which resulted in Thursday’s action.
The only justice not charged by the commission Thursday was Justice Shawn Womack.
The executive director of the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, David Sachar, said a complaint against Womack is still pending. Sachar, who has recused from the case, said he did not know the reason.
Read Friday's Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.