TodayLegal News

Verdict.News

Seal of the Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court

State Court•state

33 articles

State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas High Court Reverses Ruling on Legislature's Cannabis Law Powers

The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling that limited the General Assembly's authority to amend voter-initiated medical cannabis laws. The December 11, 2025 decision in *State of Arkansas v. Good Day Farm Arkansas, LLC* addresses constitutional questions about legislative power over citizen-initiated amendments.

•Arkansas Supreme Court reversed lower court ruling limiting legislature's power over voter-initiated laws
•Decision affects medical cannabis companies and regulatory framework established through voter initiatives
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Affirms Capital Murder Conviction in Barbecue Shooting

The Arkansas Supreme Court has affirmed the capital murder conviction of Reggie Matthews, who was sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting his former partner Tiana Robinson at a public barbecue in Osceola in September 2023. The court rejected Matthews's appeal on four grounds, including claims of insufficient evidence and improper police interrogation.

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed Reggie Matthews's capital murder conviction for shooting Tiana Robinson at a public barbecue in September 2023
•The court rejected all four grounds for appeal, including insufficient evidence claims and interrogation procedure challenges
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Dismisses Chief Justice's Harassment Appeal

The Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed an unusual case where Chief Justice Karen Baker attempted to appeal a harassment finding against her by the Administrative Office of the Courts. The court ruled it lacked jurisdiction over the internal administrative matter.

•Chief Justice Karen Baker unsuccessfully appealed harassment findings through the judicial system
•The Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed the case, ruling it lacked jurisdiction over internal administrative matters
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Adopts AI Rules for Legal Practice

The Arkansas Supreme Court adopted amendments to the state's Rules of Professional Conduct that explicitly address attorney use of artificial intelligence in legal practice. The new rules, effective immediately, permit AI use while maintaining that attorneys remain fully responsible for any ethical violations that may result from such assistance.

•Arkansas Supreme Court adopted AI-related amendments to professional conduct rules effective immediately
•New rules explicitly permit attorney use of artificial intelligence while maintaining full attorney accountability
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Dismisses State Appeal in LEARNS Act Challenge

The Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the state Department of Education and twelve other officials challenging a circuit court's refusal to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the LEARNS Act's Educational Freedom Account program violates the state constitution.

•Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed state appeal challenging circuit court's refusal to dismiss LEARNS Act lawsuit
•Court ruled sovereign immunity doesn't apply to illegal-exaction claims against unconstitutional spending
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Affirms Life Sentence in Capital Murder Case

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the life imprisonment sentence of Lazarus Reaves, who was convicted of capital murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend Shaletian Larry in December 2020. The high court rejected his appeal challenging the trial court's denial of his motion for directed verdict.

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed Lazarus Reaves' life sentence for capital murder of girlfriend Shaletian Larry
•Reaves was convicted of shooting Larry on December 26, 2020, in Fayetteville after a pattern of domestic abuse
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Issues Show-Cause Order Over Suspected AI-Generated Citations

The Arkansas Supreme Court issued a show-cause order after discovering that an attorney's brief in a child dependency case contained citations to non-existent cases and inaccurate statutory references, with the court expressing concerns the citations may have been generated by artificial intelligence.

•Arkansas Supreme Court issued show-cause order after discovering fabricated case citations in attorney's brief
•Court suspects citations were generated by artificial intelligence tools that 'hallucinated' non-existent cases
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Upholds Teen's Sexual Assault Conviction

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court's delinquency finding against a teenage defendant who sexually assaulted his 5-year-old half-niece on Thanksgiving Day 2022. The high court rejected the minor's arguments challenging both the sufficiency of evidence and the admission of a forensic interview with the victim.

•Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed delinquency finding for second-degree sexual assault
•Teenage defendant was the 5-year-old victim's half-uncle, attack occurred on Thanksgiving 2022
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Allows Parents to Defend School Choice Program

The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and granted three parents the right to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the LEARNS Act's Education Freedom Account program. The court ruled that parents who benefit from the school choice program have sufficient interest to defend it in court.

•Arkansas Supreme Court reversed circuit court denial of parents' intervention motion
•Three mothers successfully argued they have sufficient interest as program beneficiaries
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →
State Court
•4 min read
Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Adopts AI Rules for Confidential Court Data

The Arkansas Supreme Court officially adopted Administrative Order No. 25 on December 11, 2025, establishing comprehensive regulations for using generative artificial intelligence with confidential court data. The order requires all court system participants to exercise heightened awareness when using AI tools that may retain sensitive legal information.

•Arkansas Supreme Court adopts Administrative Order No. 25 regulating AI use with confidential court data, effective immediately
•Order requires awareness of data retention by AI tools and distinguishes between public and private language models
AI-generated SummaryRead Article →