Special judge named for casino cases in Arkansas

The state’s Supreme Court has designated Little Rock District Court Judge Hugh Finkelstein in a pair of casino legalisation-related cases.

US.- Arkansas recently proposed a November ballot referendum to see whether the citizens are in favour or against the gaming legislation, but two legal challenges were filed against it. After Chief Justice Dan Kemp has recused from each of the ballot measure challenges, a special justice has been designated for the lawsuits.

On Wednesday, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Little Rock District Court Judge Hugh Finkelstein as a special justice for the two cases that challenge the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The lawsuits are trying to get the proposal disqualified from the ballot, even after a major lobbying campaign that managed to get the question on the November election.

The referendum on the proposed amendment is being pushed by casino lobbying group Driving Arkansas Forward, which managed to gather nearly 100k signatures and surpassed the necessary 84,589 signatures required for the measure to be voted on. Should it be approved, Arkansas would legalise casinos at a Hot Springs horse track and a West Memphis dog track that already offer electronic gambling. In addition, casinos in Pope and Jefferson counties would be legalised.