Just out: A voters guide for the races for judgeships, prosecutor and sheriff on the May 24 election ballot in Pulaski County.

The guide is useful for all Arkansas voters because of information on the three Arkansas Supreme Court races on the ballot. A Court of Appeals race in the guide covers Pulaski, Saline and Perry counties.

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A nonpartisan but progressive-leaning group, Indivisible Little Rock and Central Arkansas, is the driving force behind the guide, which was produced in 2020 as well. Others that helped include the League of Women Voters of Pulaski County, NAACP Little Rock and North Little Rock branches, the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, the Little Rock Freedom Fund, the W. Harold Flowers Law Society, and Arkansas Community Organizations, in addition to Indivisible.

Supreme Court candidates David Sterling, Gunner DeLay and Justice Rhonda Wood did not respond to questions posed by the group.

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Chris Carnahan, Justice Robin Wynne and Justice Karen Baker did.

Interesting responses in the race in which Carnahan is challenging Justice Robin Wynne and also from Justice Baker, whose opponent didn’t respond. Candidates were asked about Canon 4 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. It says:

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The question:

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An independent, fair and impartial judiciary is indispensable to our system of justice. Do you think Rule 4 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which governs political and campaign activities of judges & judicial candidates, goes far enough to ensure public confidence in the court’s role as a neutral decision-maker?

Carnahan’s answer: I believe Rule 4 in part is violative of the First Amendment. Fair, even treatment with an opportunity to be meaningfully heard should always be the priority.

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Wynne’s answer: I think that it does. But I do believe that we need to address “Dark Money” in our Judicial Code.

Baker’s answer: No. Especially when considering how many candidates feel comfortable labeling themselves as the “conservative” candidate.

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Carnahan also said he favored a change in the makeup of the members of the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission. His answer didn’t go into specifics.

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