Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza has recused from the city of Little Rock’s lawsuit against the Arkansas Ethics Commission and mayor contenders Warwick Sabin and Frank Scott Jr.
A law clerk in his office said Tuesday that he doesn’t give the reason why he recuses from cases.
The case has been reassigned to Judge Tim Fox.
The city is seeking a declaratory judgment on whether the Arkansas Ethics Commission must consider a city campaign rule that limits the start of campaign fundraising to the June before a November election.
The commission opines only on state law, but City Attorney Tom Carpenter says it is a state law that gives Little Rock the ability to restrict the timeline to raise funds for a campaign.
The lawsuit also asks the judge to instruct the commission to sanction anyone in violation of the local ordinance. Both Sabin and Scott began raising money through their exploratory committees last year. That money will transfer to the candidates once they formally file to run for office.
Read Wednesday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.