LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The debate between the Arkansas Supreme Court justices and the chief justice continues as both sides have different opinions on the authority the chief justice has.
Five Justices of the Arkansas State Supreme Court and Chief Justice Karen Baker went back and forth about the authority they believe she has in a Thursday meeting.
“I don’t understand why the court has been functioning as if there are only five members,” Baker said.
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Justice Shawn Womack responded, “Because the Chief has been functioning as if there is only one.”
Justice Rhonda Wood told the court about an earlier business meeting held on Jan. 6 to vote and adopt what happened. The chief justice and one other justice weren’t in attendance for it.
Baker said she doesn’t recognize what happened in the meeting because she didn’t call the court into order, noting they were in a recess.
The conversation then moved to the powers that the chief justice has.
Baker previously attempted to fire employees on her own earlier this year, something some other justices don’t believe she had the ability to do.
“So, your position is that the language in Amendment 80, which I assume you’re talking about amendment 80 section 4, is just unlimited to anything that the court can do, you can do instead of the court,” Womack said.
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Baker said yes.
“First of all, I think you’re clearly wrong on that,” Womack said.
Much of the debate centered around the interpretation of Amendment 80 which delegates the responsibilities and power to the court and chief justice.
“I think you are grossly overreaching with your interpretation of Amendment 80,” Womack said.
“I think it’s clear that the chief justice administers the court,” Baker said.
While they didn’t come to an agreement on the authority of the chief justice, they did vote to adopt what happened in the Jan. 6 meeting.
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FOX 16 News reached out to Baker for comment but has not yet heard back.