A complaint filed Thursday by Little Rock attorney Matt Campbell against Judge Dan Kemp argues that the Arkansas Supreme Court candidate was unethical in approving a guilty plea involving the daughter of family friends.
The complaint, filed with the state Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, states that Kemp, 64, of Mountain View violated two ethics rules when he failed to recuse himself in the case of Lea Ann Finn, 42 at the time, in Stone County Circuit Court.
Finn was arrested Oct. 28, 2014, in Stone County on multiple drug charges dating back to alleged offenses three days before.
Campbell, who also owns the left-leaning Blue Hog Report, wrote in a blog post Sunday that Kemp approved an agreement Nov. 12 that involved Finn pleading guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated related to drugs.
In exchange, charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, furnishing prohibited articles and possession of a controlled substance were dismissed, court records show.
The plea agreement came less than a week after Kemp announced his candidacy for the Arkansas Supreme Court and 16 days before Finn's parents, Jim and Kay Hinkle, each donated $2,500 to Kemp's campaign, the blog reported.
Alleging a third violation of ethics rules, Campbell said in his complaint that Kemp knowingly provided a false or misleading statement in response to his blog post.
That statement from Kemp said Finn was treated the same as "any other first time drug offender," which Campbell said ignored previous drug charges that ended in guilty pleas.
Kemp is running against Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson in the race to determine who will replace interim Chief Justice Howard Brill.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.