Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson has sued the entire Quorum Court entirely and individually again, eight months after winning a lawsuit against the body, disputing the validity of meetings without rules of procedure.
The six-page suit was filed in the Civil Division of 11th West Circuit Court on Thursday morning. Robinson, represented by John E. Tull III and Glenn Larkin of Little Rock, argues the Quorum Court “has been operating, again, in violation of state law by conducting county business without having a valid procedural ordinance in place.” Robinson referenced an order a special judge filed in Circuit Court on Jan. 6, finding the Quorum Court violated “the clear direction of Arkansas law” and that a procedural ordinance passed by certain Quorum Court members “was invalid for failure Arkansas law.”
The latest suit cites Section 14-14-904 of the state code, which states in parts that the justices of the peace should organize as a quorum court body in each county on the first regular meeting date after the beginning of the justices’ term; the time, date and location of the meetings should be established; the organizational ordinance adopted at the first regular meeting should go into effect upon adoption; and the Quorum Court should determine its rules of procedure at the first regular meeting.
The Jefferson County Quorum Court passed a procedural ordinance in January of this year, but Robinson signed it effective only until February, according to the suit.
A budget stalemate resulting from an ordinance debate led to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signing Senate Bill 182 into law on Feb. 10. That measure put the 2024 budget for Jefferson County into effect until one for 2025 was passed and called for withholding of pay for the justices and the county judge until a current-year budget is passed.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The suit filed Thursday also disputes the validity of Ordinance 2025-8, titled “An ordinance establishing and adopting procedures for the Jefferson County Quorum Court at all regular and special called meetings of the Quorum Court of Jefferson County, Arkansas, for the years 2025 (from date of passage) through the year 2026.” Eight of the 13 justices of the peace in Jefferson County met for a special-called meeting March 17, in which it was reportedly approved.
The eight who met were identified in the suit as Reginald Adams, Alfred Carroll Sr., Melanie Johnson Dumas, Brenda Bishop Gaddy, Cedric Jackson, Reginald Johnson, Richard Victorino and Margarette Williams.
But Robinson argues all ordinances or amendments to existing ones “shall be fully and distinctly read on three different days unless two-thirds of the members composing the court shall dispense with the rule,” citing state law. Nine of 13 would mathematically satisfy the two-thirds rule, and the ordinance was not read on three different days but only on March 17, according to the suit.
It is not known if either of the defendants has hired an attorney.
So far, 5th Division Circuit Judge Jodi Raines Dennis has recused herself from hearing the case.