The Arkansas Supreme Court has appointed Judge Randall Wright as a special judge to preside over a high-profile lawsuit seeking to remove Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. from the 2026 election ballot, after all local judges recused themselves from the case.
The appointment comes as Jefferson County resident and sheriff’s candidate Mark Cannon challenges Woods’ eligibility to run for or hold office, alleging the sheriff is disqualified under Arkansas law because of a prior misdemeanor theft conviction.
Cannon filed the petition Dec. 8 in Jefferson County Circuit Court, but the case stalled almost immediately as each judge in the county stepped aside due to potential conflicts. The mass recusal prompted the state’s high court to assign Wright, who will now handle all proceedings in the expedited election-related case.
The lawsuit asks Wright to issue a writ of mandamus and grant declaratory and injunctive relief, arguing that misdemeanor theft is legally classified as an “infamous crime” under Article 5, Section 9 of the Arkansas Constitution. Cannon cites the Arkansas Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Edwards v. Campbell, which held that misdemeanor theft involves dishonesty and disqualifies a person from holding public office.
Cannon also contends that the conviction — which was later sealed — still renders Woods ineligible. Under Arkansas Code § 21-8-305, sealing does not restore eligibility for individuals convicted of “public trust crimes,” a category Cannon says includes Woods’ offense.
The petition seeks to prevent the Jefferson County Board of Election Commissioners, the Jefferson County Clerk, and Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester from placing Woods on the ballot or certifying any votes cast for him.
Because the alleged conviction record was sealed, Cannon is asking Wright to order an in-camera review of the documents to determine whether Woods was in fact convicted of misdemeanor theft. State law allows sealed records to be reviewed for determining public office eligibility.
Cannon is also requesting preliminary and permanent injunctions blocking Woods from being certified as a candidate or taking office.
Under Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, mandamus petitions involving elections must be heard within two to seven days of filing, meaning Judge Wright is expected to schedule a hearing quickly.
The case is underway under new judicial oversight, with Wright now tasked with resolving one of the county’s most closely watched election disputes.
