Background
The Supreme Court of Arkansas issued a per curiam opinion addressing appointments to the Arkansas Committee on Professional Conduct. Six members—Don R. Etherly, Leanne P. Burch, Hon. Jackie B. Harris, James G. Crumpton, Angela S. Cole-Lowther, and William A. Finer—were completing their current terms.
W. Trent Minner’s term also was set to expire on December 31, 2026. Because he had served the remainder of a vacated term lasting less than two years, the court determined that he remained eligible for appointment to two full six-year terms under its earlier decision in In re Arkansas Committee on Professional Conduct, 2026 Ark. 148.
The Court’s Holding
Effective January 1, 2027, the court reappointed Etherly, Burch, Harris, Crumpton, Cole-Lowther, and Finer to their respective committee positions for second and final six-year terms. Those terms expire December 31, 2032.
The court also appointed Minner to his respective committee position for an initial full six-year term beginning January 1, 2027, and expiring December 31, 2032. The court thanked all seven members for their continued service. Special Justice Cory Cox joined the opinion, and Justice Webb did not participate.
Key Takeaways
- Six committee members received second and final six-year terms running through December 31, 2032.
- Minner’s service of less than two years completing a vacated term did not prevent him from receiving an initial full six-year appointment.
- All seven appointments take effect January 1, 2027.
Why It Matters
The order preserves continuity on the body responsible for administering Arkansas’s attorney-discipline system. It also confirms that completing less than two years of a vacated term does not count as one of the two full six-year terms for which a committee member may be eligible.