Arkansas Chief Justice Dan Kemp held a morning coffee hour with lawmakers Tuesday at the Capitol.
Kemp, who leads a judiciary that has at times clashed with the Legislature over issues such as tort changes and judicial impeachment, said he wanted to get to know lawmakers better.
"Occasionally with just the nature of separation of powers, you're going to have differences that you have to work through," Kemp said.
[RELATED: Complete Democrat-Gazette coverage of the Arkansas Legislature]
The mood of morning meeting, held in a conference room off the restaurant in the Capitol's basement, was light, with several lawmakers asking Kemp about issues related to Bar Association dues, as well as boards and committees administered by the Supreme Court.
About a dozen lawmakers showed up. Kemp said that, when possible, he wants to make the meeting a weekly event during the session.
-- John Moritz