Arkansas Supreme Court issues initial decision in Chief Justice Baker case

Video: Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker addresses House committee

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An order by the Arkansas Supreme Court shows the case between its chief justice and administrative office director is not over.

The Thursday order stated the court could not make a final decision to dismiss the case. Chief Justice Karen Baker requested the dismissal of a human resources report filed by the Administrative Office of the Courts’ director, Marty Sullivan.

Baker asked the court to dismiss it because it lacked jurisdiction to invalidate the administrative office’s harassment policy and lacked evidence of harassment. In its order, the court’s justices said they could not review the report Baker was challenging because she did not file it with her dismissal request.

Justices asked Baker to submit the reports and related documents by March 11. Sullivan may supplement what Baker submits if he chooses to do so by March 14, they wrote.

Baker and Associate Justice Courtney Hudson did not participate in the opinion.

Shortly after assuming her position on Jan. 1, Baker controversially terminated the employment of Sullivan and nine other court employees. The decision has led to an ongoing debate about the chief justice’s power.

from KARK https://ift.tt/ki0vRjw