The House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation providing more than $385,000 to foot the Arkansas Supreme Court's legal bills in a lawsuit brought by outspoken Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen.
State officials are usually represented by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge when they're sued, but Rutledge recused from the case last year.
The bill for outside legal aid has crept to $135,744.62, according to a Feb. 6 letter Arkansas Chief Justice Dan Kemp sent to lawmakers.
Griffen sued the high court's justices after they ruled he could no longer preside over cases involving capital punishment. The state Supreme Court's order came after Griffen participated in a death-penalty protest outside the Governor's Mansion on the same day he issued an order temporarily stopping the state from carrying out a series of scheduled executions.
The state Senate approved the additional money on Wednesday, meaning Senate Bill 110 awaits the signature of Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
-- Hunter Field
A Section on 02/23/2018