On Friday, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced key appointments to the state Supreme Court and the position of Secretary of State. These selections include one of the state’s leading attorneys and a sitting Supreme Court justice, as well as her deputy chief legal counsel.
With Sanders’ choices, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court is set to increase to 5-2, shifting the balance of power on the largely nonpartisan court that has been a target for conservative advocacy groups in prior years.
Justice Cody Hiland and Solicitor General Nicholas Bronni have been appointed to the Supreme Court, with their terms starting on January 1. Hiland previously filled a Supreme Court vacancy that will conclude at the end of this year. In a ceremony held at the Capitol, Sanders remarked, “When I took office nearly two years ago, we had a liberal Supreme Court. That’s not the case anymore. Our Supreme Court is now firmly conservative.”
Bronni, who has a track record of representing the state in significant legal matters—including a case that limited the scope of the Voting Rights Act and a ruling on contractor requirements concerning Israel—will take over for Justice Karen Baker, recently elected as chief justice. Bronni acknowledged the critical role of a judge, saying, “I come to the bench recognizing that a judge plays an important, but limited, role in our constitutional system.”
Hilary previously held the position of U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas under President Trump from 2017 to 2020. Before his judicial appointment, he was the chairman of the state Republican Party and served as an adviser during Sanders’ gubernatorial campaign in 2020. Hiland replaces Justice Courtney Goodson, who has been elected to a different court seat. He expressed gratitude for his role, stating, “We have a special state, and the thing that makes us special is our people. So to continue serving in such a critical role is a blessing.”
Additionally, Sanders appointed Cole Jester, her deputy chief legal counsel, to succeed John Thurston as Secretary of State. Thurston is set to assume the role of state treasurer in January. Prior to his tenure in Sanders’ office, Jester served as an appellate clerk for Chief Judge Lavenski Smith of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Jester pledged, “As your Secretary of State, I will fight to keep Arkansas the best state in the country by ensuring our elections remain the most secure.”
