State of Justice: April Ethics Updates
Arkansas Supreme Court may soon hear dispute between its chief justice and top administrator
The dispute between Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker and Marty Sullivan, the director of the administrative office of the courts, is still ongoing and may soon be at the state supreme court. Earlier this year, Baker filed two motions related to the current dispute between her and the court’s top administrator. The dispute between Baker and Sullivan started in December 2024. Baker, along with Justice Courtney Hudson and the department of commerce’s chief of staff, Allison Hatfield, visited the administrative office of the courts. The following day, Baker returned to the office and attempted to enter Sullivan’s locked office without his presence. In the process, staff claim she harassed and berated them to unlock the door. This prompted the state supreme court to issue new rules. One restricted Hatfield from entering non-public areas without a security officer or invitation to private chambers. The other prevented a justice from entering a justice’s chambers or a staff member’s office without their permission and ordered staff to report any violations. After that interaction, Baker and Sullivan continued to clash with each other at the court. Baker then attempted to fire Sullivan. However, the state supreme court reversed that decision, finding Baker’s dismissal of Sullivan was retaliatory. According to an HR report from the administrative office, Baker violated court policy when she harassed and intimidated staff in her December visit.
One of Baker’s motions moved to dismiss the HR report’s findings that she violated court policy. The other sought to disqualify Justice Rhonda Wood from any proceedings. Baker and Wood ran against each other in the contest for chief justice in November 2024. Baker received 52.7% of the vote, and Wood received 42.3%. Baker’s motion, however, centered on Wood’s comments about Sullivan. Baker claimed Wood’s comments praised Sullivan while criticizing her.
