Griffen v. Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission

Robert L. Brown, Justice.

Petitioner, Judge Wendell L. Griffen, petitions this court to grant a writ of certiorari to the respondent, Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (Judicial Commission), declaring a letter of admonishment invalid and quashing it. Judge Griffen mounts several arguments in support of his petition: (1) he did not violate the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct; (2) the remarks he made to the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus are protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as free speech and as the free exercise of religion; and (3)…