Arkansas Bar Association debates putting an end to Supreme Court races
LITTLE ROCK—The Arkansas Bar Association said it plans to discuss whether to push for a constitutional amendment to end the practice of electing state Supreme Court justices.
A draft was released Monday outlining a plan for justices to be appointed to nonrenewable 14-year terms starting in 2019. Currently, the state's seven Supreme Court justices are elected statewide to eight-year terms and can run for re-election, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Under the proposed amendment, the nine-person Judicial Nominating Commission would be members appointed by the governor, legislators, the state Supreme Court and the bar association. The commission would come up with three possible candidates for each seat, and the governor would make the final decision.
In a statement, a bar association task force noted the influence of large, out-of-state contributions in three recent Supreme Court elections. It said it sought "to assure a fair and impartial Court, to create a Court independent of perceived improper influences arising from campaign finances and politics, and to continue the high quality of justices on our Supreme Court."
Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2016/nov/16/arkansas-bar-association-debates-putting-end-supreme-court-races/649234/