LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas laws requiring public officials to report gifts they’ve received contain no exemption for gifts from boyfriends or girlfriends, the head of the state Ethics Commission said Tuesday.
Elected officials don’t have to disclose gifts from family members, said Graham Sloan, executive director of the commission.
“There isn’t an exemption for somebody you’re dating,” Sloan said.
Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Courtney Henry reported on her 2010 statement of financial interest that attorney John Goodson of Texarkana gave her $99,539 worth of gifts last year, when she was a member of the state Court of Appeals.
She also listed him as a creditor who had loaned her at least $5,000.
Henry on Monday identified Goodson as her boyfriend. She said she properly reported the gifts “completely and honestly” and that she has placed Goodson on her “permanent recusal list.”
She said this means she will disqualify herself from any cases before the Supreme Court involving Goodson or his firm, Keil and Goodson.
The gifts to Henry are likely the most to an elected official since former Gov. Mike Huckabee in 1999 reported $110,000 in gifts, including $53,000 from Little Rock businessman Jennings Osborne. Sloan said he recalls no instance of a greater amount of gifts since then.
Arkansas gift laws require that gifts of more than $100 be reported. Gifts are allowed as long they aren’t meant to reward an elected official for doing their job, Sloan said.
David Sachar, deputy director of the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, cited judicial canons that require judges to comply with the law and that ban gifts if they “would appear to a reasonable person to undermine the judge’s independence, integrity, or impartiality.”
He cited commentary to the canon that says “there would be no opportunity for a gift to influence the judge’s decision making” if the judge recuses from a case involving the gift giver.
Chief Justice Jim Hannah declined comment through a spokesman.
Henry was elected to the Supreme Court in May 2010.
Henry’s campaign records show that Goodson contributed $2,000 to her campaign in March 2010. His law partner, Matt Keil, contributed the same amount that same month. They also have contributed to a number of other candidates and have been listed among the top 10 political donors in the state in 2010.
Their law firm has had some notable success in class action litigation.
Records with the Pulaski County assessor show that Goodson bought a house in Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood in September 2010.
The house has an appraised value of $723,000 and has 3,300 square feet.
Goodson bought the house from Julia Peck Mobley of Texarkana, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party. Mobley also contributed to Henry’s campaign.
The sale price wasn’t listed on records at the Pulaski County assessor’s office. County Assessor Janet Ward said the house sale closed in Miller County and the deed from that county was unclear as to the price. Because of that, the house is listed as being sold for “zero” on the Pulaski assessor’s website, Ward said.
Goodson didn’t return a phone message left at his law office in Texarkana on Tuesday.
Henry didn’t return a message left on her cell phone.
On Monday, she declined to give details about why she listed Goodson as a creditor. She said she would only disclose what was legally required. She said she wouldn’t disclose where she went on the trips funded by Goodson. The gifts from Goodson included nine trips to unlisted destinations with airfare, hotel, meals and entertainment costing a combined $46,853.
Sloan said Tuesday whether someone had adequately described the gift received on a statement of financial interest is a “question of fact” that would have to be determined by the Ethics Commission if a complaint is filed.
Henry’s husband, Mark, filed for divorce in June 2010, one month after she won her election. Henry said Monday that her divorce was final “months ago.”
She listed all gifts from Goodson as being given no earlier than June 2010.
Henry’s gifts were much more than other justices.
Justice Robert L. Brown reported two gifts, $500 for dinner at a “cancer ball” from Bill Cravens, and a duck hunt and accommodations from Bill Deupree of Memphis.
Hannah reported no gifts but six trips to legal conferences paid for by Pew Charitable Trust, the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Pound Civil Justice Institute, and the State Justice Institute.
Justice Jim Gunter reported no gifts and one trip for a “moot court” costing $606 by Rendigs National Products.
Justices Donald Corbin, Karen Baker, Elana Wills and Paul Danielson reported no gifts and no trips.
The report for former Justice Ron Sheffield wasn’t on line with the secretary of state’s office.
Information for this article was contributed by John Lynch of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 02/02/2011