A political saga at the Arkansas Supreme Court has taken another dramatic turn, with a staff member telling the Chief Justice to stay out of his office.
The Supreme Court changed its rules after Justice Karen Baker entered the office of administrative director Marty Sullivan when he wasn't there. The chief justice reportedly left the room in a "disheveled" state, something she denied.
Baker later wrote to the court's police chief and warned that "there better not be any footage going around" of the December incident.
In an email, Sullivan wrote to Baker on Monday, advising her to stay out of administrative offices pending an HR review.
“Per the recommendation of the report, I believe it is more than reasonable that you do not enter AOC offices or engage in direct contact or communication with AOC staff until the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission provides further instruction,” Sullivan’s email said.
Baker was elected Chief Justice in November, becoming the first woman in the role.
Within her first week on the job, she faced a power struggle with her fellow justices after she attempted a mass firing of court employees, including Sullivan and police chief Pete Hollingsworth.
The firing order was blocked by her colleagues, who accused Baker of overstepping her authority in an act of retaliation.
Baker held her ground, and blamed two of her former electoral opponents, who sit on the court, for the backlash.
“Notwithstanding the will of the people in selecting me to serve in this position, two of my opponents in the Chief Justice race that remain on the court are now attempting to take what the people would not give them by force,” the chief justice wrote.
Concerning Sullivan, Baker wrote that he entered an unethical, and illegal, employment contract with five of the justices that guaranteed him a job until 2032, totaling $1.6 million in pay over eight years.
Arkansas law prohibits employees from entering contracts in which they have a financial interest, Baker said, adding she is treating Sullivan's signature as his resignation.
Furthermore, Baker accused the five justices who entered the contract of trying to "commandeer" her authority to select her own director.
"If this were allowed to stand, I would not be permitted to perform my duties as constitutionally required of the Chief Justice for the eight years I have been sworn to serve."
