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Willard Proctor
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This Arkansas-related article is a sprout. |
Willard Proctor, Jr. is a former Division 5 judge of the Sixth Circuit in Pulaski County, Arkansas.[1] He was removed from the bench January 25, 2010.[2] Proctor is waging a write-in campaign for re-election to the court in 2010.[3] Campaign officials have decided that there will be a space on the ballot if voters wish to vote for Proctor.[4][5][6]
Reinstatement suit
In 2010 Proctor sued the state to allow him to run for election back to the court he was removed from. His suit was dismissed by a federal judge in March, 2010; Proctor then filed suit against the state claiming that the state law barring him from running for re-election is unconstitutional.[7]
The Arkansas Supreme Court found that it is indeed unconstitutional for the judiciary to add another qualification on running for office. However, the Court also contends that Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce was correct in barring Proctor from running for re-election to an office from which he was ejected. Because of the ruling, it stands that votes cast for Willard Proctor in the upcoming elections will not be counted.[8] To read the ruling, visit here (dead link).
Judicial misconduct
The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission recommended that Proctor be removed from the bench for judicial misconduct. After a hearing in the spring of 2009, the commission reached the decision that Proctor violated judicial conduct rules in his relationship with Cycle Breakers, a nonprofit anti-addiction program he created in 2001.
Employees of the judge testified that Proctor "threatened or insulted them, made misleading statements to the Pulaski County Quorum Court, referred to himself as God and controlled the money that went into the program".[9] Proctor has requested that the Supreme Court dismiss the case on procedural grounds, claiming that the commission failed to properly notify him of its investigation and that the disciplinary hearing was not conducted in a timely manner.[9] He has since been removed by the Arkansas Supreme Court.[2]
Footnotes
- ↑ List of Sixth Circuit Judges
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pine Bluff Commercial High court removes Pulaski Co. judge from bench, January 25, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ Today's THV "Former Judge Willard Proctor speaks out," March 19, 2010
- ↑ Associated Press "Votes for ex-judge allowed on Pulaski Co. ballot," March 20, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ Arkansas Democrat "Election panel advised to provide ballot line for Proctor," March 20, 2010
- ↑ Ballot Access News "Former Arkansas Judge Seeks Election as Write-in Candidate," March 21, 2010
- ↑ Associated Press "Ex-judge in Arkansas continues attempt to run," March 18, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ Arkansas News, "High court strikes down law making removal from bench permanent," April 30, 2010
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Arkansas News Bureau "Embattled judge argues against removal from bench," January 14, 2010
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas
State courts:
Arkansas Supreme Court • Arkansas Court of Appeals • Arkansas Circuit Courts • Arkansas District Courts • Arkansas City Courts
State resources:
Courts in Arkansas • Arkansas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Arkansas
