LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The upcoming runoff for chief justice of Arkansas’ Supreme Court, featuring justices Karen Baker and Rhonda Wood, is poised to become a historic event, regardless of the outcome. While the race will not alter the conservative balance that currently exists on the court, it marks a significant moment as it will result in the first elected female chief justice in the state’s history. Although appointed, Betty Dickey served as chief justice in 2003, but Baker or Wood’s election will provide a historic first for an elected position.
The context of this election comes after both candidates emerged as the top contenders in a four-person contest held earlier this year. No candidate secured the necessary majority to claim victory outright. As the race stands now, the Supreme Court in Arkansas holds a nominally nonpartisan structure, yet a Republican majority of 4-3 will solidify to 5-2 following forthcoming appointments from Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders next year, irrespective of which candidate wins.
Wood, who joined the court in 2014 and was reelected in 2022, enjoys robust support from prominent Republican figures, including Governor Sanders and Senator Tom Cotton. The Arkansas Republican Party has also endorsed her campaign. On the contrary, Wood emphasizes that her judicial decisions reflect her independent judgment rather than partisan alignment. She asserted, “I think I have made decisions consistently with the law, but not necessarily maybe one party or another would agree with.”
Baker, with her tenure on the court starting in 2011, has refrained from engaging in media interviews for this race. She successfully defended her seat in 2022 against an opponent who positioned himself as a constitutional conservative. Reflecting on her role, Baker has maintained that her record demonstrates a commitment to nonpartisanship and expressed skepticism toward the backing Wood received from political action committees, invoking the importance of remaining unbiased in the judiciary.
In previous election cycles, conservative groups invested substantial resources to further a right-leaning agenda in the court. Interestingly, this year, those groups have redirected their financial focus toward more competitive races in states like Ohio and Michigan, thus not targeting Arkansas in the same manner.
A critical point of contention between Baker and Wood has emerged regarding a judicial ruling related to abortion rights. Wood authored the 4-3 majority opinion affirming the state’s rejection of petitions linked to a considerably debated abortion measure. The court found that the proponents did not meet specific paperwork prerequisites for signature gathering. Baker’s dissent raised concerns regarding the lack of public input and the unwillingness of the majority to allow a vote, asking, “Why are the respondent and the majority determined to keep this particular vote from the people?”
When questioned about how their opposing viewpoints revealed their judicial philosophies, Wood characterized her stance as one grounded in judicial restraint, unlike Baker’s approach, which she suggested was aimed at stirring public sentiment.
Looking ahead, Baker has proposed utilizing her experience to focus on enhancing attorney licensing issues if elected. Meanwhile, Wood aims to promote accessibility in the court system, including feature enhancements like text notifications for court dates and alternative attendance options like night sessions and virtual hearings. Wood encapsulated her vision as a drive toward transparency and making the judicial process more approachable for citizens.
Regardless of the election’s result, the losing candidate will retain their position on the court, setting the stage for Sanders to appoint another justice next year. The creation of an opening arose when Justice Courtney Hudson, who was elected in a related process in March, will transition to a different court position, thereby filling the vacancy left by Justice Cody Hiland, whom Sanders appointed the previous year.
