LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas Supreme Court justice accused of having an inappropriate conversation with a state senator has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The state’s judicial oversight committee investigated a complaint submitted in September against Justice Cliff Hoofman. The grievance was about an alleged improper conversation between Hoofman and Republican state Sen. Jason Rapert.
Rapert said he and Hoofman spoke about same-sex marriage around the time Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza overturned the state’s ban in May. Rapert sponsored a resolution passed by the Arkansas Legislative Council in the summer that criticized Piazza’s ruling and asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to uphold the law.
The state’s highest court is considering whether to uphold the 2004 constitutional amendment and earlier state law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
Hoofman recused himself from the case on Sept. 10, before the complaint was filed.
On Wednesday, Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission director David Sachar sent Hoofman a notice that said the complaint has been dismissed, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (https://bit.ly/1xkrdQB ) reported.
“The basic facts (of the complaint) involved your alleged communication with (Rapert) and subsequent recusal from the so-called ’same sex marriage’ case,” Sachar wrote. “Based on your response, and the statements of other Court members and staff there was no indication that you, or anyone else on the Supreme Court, initiated or allowed any continuing communication on the matter.”
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe named retired Judge Robert W. McCorkindale from Harrison in early October to fill in as a special justice in the gay-marriage case. The Arkansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Nov. 20.
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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, https://www.arkansasonline.com
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