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Arkansas Supreme Court grants in part, denies in part petition in CV-24-455; mandate issued
Summary
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Aug. 22, 2024, denied a motion to dismiss and granted in part and denied in part an original petition challenging ballot-question matters in CV-24-455, and ordered the mandate to issue immediately; three justices registered a dissent.
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Aug. 22, 2024, denied a motion to dismiss and granted in part and denied in part a petition in CV-24-455, an original action involving ballot-question committees and the secretary of state, and ordered the mandate to issue immediately. The case is styled Lauren Cowles, Individually and on Behalf of Arkansans for Limited Government, a Ballot Question Committee v. John Thurston, in His Official Capacity as Secretary of State; Arkansans for Patient Access; Bill Paschall; Local Voters in Charge; and Jim Knight.
The decision carries immediate effect because the court directed that the mandate issue immediately. The ruling both sustained and rejected portions of the petition, though the court’s order did not appear in the transcript to set out further factual findings or remedies beyond granting the petition in part and denying it in part.
The parties named in the action include Lauren Cowles, individually and on behalf of Arkansans for Limited Government; John Thurston, in his official capacity as Arkansas secretary of state; Arkansans for Patient Access, a ballot question committee; Bill Paschall, individually and on behalf of Arkansans for Patient Access; Local Voters in Charge, a ballot question committee; and Jim Knight, individually and on behalf of Local Voters in Charge. The proceeding is recorded as an original action, case number CV-24-455.
Three members of the court registered a dissent to the majority action. Kemp, C.J., and Justices Baker and Hudson are listed as dissenting. The transcript identifies Rhonda K. Wood as a justice associated with the proceedings.
No further directions, remands, or supplemental orders are specified in the available transcript. The immediate mandate indicates the court intended the decision to take effect without delay.
