By Ray King
A retired circuit judge has been named to hear the lawsuit filed by Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson against the 13 members of the Quorum Court, alleging they are attempting to usurp his authority.
An order from the Arkansas Supreme Court filed July 25 and signed b Chief Justice John Dan Kemp designates Judge William R. Wright to hear all proceedings in the case which will be held at the time and place of Wright’s order.
A special judge was necessary because all the sitting circuit judges in the district recused themselves, citing the appearance of a conflict of interest.
The lawsuit contends that a policies and procedures ordnance, which was passed by seven members of the Quorum Court during what he contends was an illegal meeting is null and void.
Establishing a policies and procedures ordinance is mandated by state laws and should have been done during the first meeting of the year in January but because of differences between Robinson and some of the justices of the peace, no ordinance was adopted for five straight months.
In June, after Robinson adjourned the regular meeting of the county’s legislative body, seven members, led by Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin Jr., called for a continuance of the meeting, in violation of state law, and adopted their version of the policies and procedures act.
Robinson, who was present, declined to chair that meeting and will ask Wright to declare that ordinance null and void and order the Quorum Court to adopt a policies and procedures ordinance that does not violate state statutes.
