Justices divided over abortion injunction vie to lead Arkansas Supreme Court – Winnipeg Free Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Two justices who disagreed over whether Arkansas voters should have a chance to ease the state’s abortion ban are vying to lead the state Supreme Court, even though the election does not affect the court’s conservative tilt.

Judges Rhonda Wood and Karen Baker are running to replace Chief Justice Dan Kemp in Tuesday’s election; The state’s four congressmen are defying objections from Democratic candidates.

Voters will also be asked to approve a constitutional amendment that would revoke the license a state panel granted for the casino.

A historic race for chief justice

No matter whether Wood or Baker wins, history will be made: Arkansas will elect a woman as chief justice of the Supreme Court for the first time.

The two justices were on opposing sides in a debate over whether to keep a measure on the ballot that would dilute an Arkansas law that bans nearly all abortions.

Wood wrote the 4-3 majority opinion upholding the court’s decision to deny petitions in favor of the proposal. The court ruled that the measure’s sponsors failed to comply with paperwork requirements for paid signature gatherers.

In fierce dissent, Baker asked: “Why are the participants and the majority determined to hide this private vote from the public?”

Although the seats are nonpartisan, Wood is running with the support of the state caucus of the Arkansas Republican Party, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and GOP Sen. Tom Cotton. Conservatives already have a 5-2 majority on the court, and Sanders is slated to fill two vacancies on the seven-member court after the election.

A woman served as chief justice in Arkansas, but Betty Dickey was appointed to the post by former Governor Mike Huckabee in 2003, not elected.

Republicans try to defend US House seats

All four of Arkansas’ Republican congressmen are fending off challenges from Democrats trying to break the GOP’s grip on all federal seats in the state.

Rep. Rick Crawford is running against Democrat Rodney Govens for the 1st District, which covers eastern Arkansas. Crawford was first elected in 2010 to represent the district, which includes Jonesboro and West Memphis. A ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, he said he would be the top Republican on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Govens is a Cabot resident who has worked in the telecommunications industry. Libertarian candidate Steve Parsons is also running.

Rep. French Hill will face Democrat Marcus Jones in the 2nd District race, which covers Little Rock and surrounding areas. Hill was first elected to the seat in 2014 and is vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Jones is a retired Army colonel who served as senior Army advisor to the Arkansas Army National Guard at Camp Robinson.

In Northwest Arkansas, 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack is running against Democrat Caitlin Draper, a clinical social worker. Womack was first elected in 2010 in the district that includes Fayetteville and Fort Smith. Libertarian Bobby Wilson is also running. Womack, a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, fended off a challenge from a state legislator in the Republican primary earlier this year.

In the 4th District, which covers southern Arkansas, Rep. Bruce Westerman is running against Democrat Risie Howard, an attorney from Pine Bluff. Westerman was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 and chaired the House Natural Resources Committee.

Voters decide fate of planned casino