A federal judge on Thursday denied Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson's request for an injunction to stop attack ads that have been airing against Goodson during her re-election campaign.
The ruling, by U.S. District Judge Brian Miller, came a day after Goodson took to the stand and testified that at least one of the claims about her — that she had requested a raise in 2017 — was false.
But the group airing the ads, the Republican State Leadership Committee, and their attorneys argued that other claims about the justice's relationships with donors and gift-givers were true.
The claims about Goodson's involvement with the court's pay raise had only been made in mailers that had already been sent out. The other claims have continued airing in television attack ads.
To get an injunction against the ads, Goodson had to prove not only that they were false, but that the group acted recklessly to defame her.
Miller's order means the attack ads can continue airing throughout the state in the final days leading up to Tuesday's election.
Goodson’s attorney, Lauren Hoover, said Thursday the justice is unlikely to appeal the ruling.
In a statement issued in response to Miller’s ruling, and RSLC spokesman said the decision gave further reason to “replace” Justice Goodson on the Supreme Court.
“A much better Judge than Courtney Goodson just tossed her latest, outrageous assault on the First Amendment,” said the spokesman, David James.
Later Thursday, Goodson said in a telephone call that while she was disappointed in the outcome, she felt the suit had served a purpose. “I did clear my name,” she said.
“I am proud of the fight I have fought,” Goodson said. “I have not done the things they want Arkansans to believe."
Goodson is running against Department of Human Services attorney David Sterling, who has denied involvement with the ads.