Courtney Hudson Goodson

Last updated
Courtney Goodson
Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
Assumed office
2010
Preceded by Elana Wills
Judge of the Arkansas Court of Appeals
In office
2008–2010
Personal details
Born1973 (age 4546)
Harrison, Arkansas
Spouse(s)
  • Mark Henry
    (m. 1996;div. 2010)
    [1]
  • John Goodson
Residence Fayetteville, Arkansas [2]

Courtney Hudson Goodson (born 1973) is a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. She was elected to the position in 2010. [2]

Arkansas Supreme Court the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas

The Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1925, it has consisted of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, and at times Special Justices are called upon in the absence of a regular justice. The Justices are elected in a non-partisan election for eight-year-long terms that are staggered to make it unlikely that the entire court would be replaced in a single election. Any vacancy caused by a Justice not finishing his or her term is filled by an appointment made by the Governor of Arkansas.

Contents

Elections

2010

Goodson defeated Circuit Judge John Fogleman of Marion, Arkansas for the Position 3 Associate Justice position. The election was for an eight-year term. During the campaign, former President Bill Clinton and former Arkansas 3rd Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt supported Goodson. [3]

Marion, Arkansas City in Arkansas, United States

Marion is a city in and the county seat of Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 12,345 at the 2010 census, a 38.7% increase since 2000. The city is part of the Memphis metropolitan area. It is the second largest city in Crittenden County, behind West Memphis.

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Bill Clinton 42nd president of the United States

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The election saw hundreds of thousands of dollars spent by dark money groups attempting to defeat Goodson, making it the most expensive Supreme Court election in Arkansas history to that point. Goodson won by a 57% to 43% margin. [4]

Dark money American political term for unlimited political contributions of 501(c) organizations

In the politics of the United States, dark money refers to political spending by nonprofit organizations—for example, 501(c)(4) 501(c)(5) (unions) and 501(c)(6) groups—that are not required to disclose their donors. Such organizations can receive unlimited donations from corporations, individuals and unions. In this way, their donors can spend funds to influence elections, without voters knowing where the money came from. Dark money first entered politics with Buckley v. Valeo (1976) when the United States Supreme Court laid out Eight Magic Words that define the difference between electioneering and issue advocacy.

2016

Goodson sought the Chief Justice position in November 2016 shortly after the announcement of Howard Brill as interim chief justice. She was able to maintain her Position 3 seat while running for Chief Justice. [5] Circuit Judge John Dan Kemp won the seat by a 58–42 margin. [4]

John Dan Kemp, Jr. is the Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court.

2018

Seeking reelection, Goodson won the most votes in a three-way non-partisan judicial election on May 22, 2018. A runoff election will be held between Goodson and David Sterling in November 2018. [4]

Personal life

Goodson is married to John Goodson of Texarkana, Arkansas, a powerful attorney, political donor, and member of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. She divorced Mark Henry, her husband of 14 years, shortly after winning election to the Arkansas Supreme Court. [1]

Texarkana, Arkansas City in the United States

Texarkana is a city in Arkansas and the county seat of Miller County. The city is located across the state line from its twin city, Texarkana, Texas. The city was founded at a railroad intersection on December 8, 1873, and was incorporated in Arkansas on August 10, 1880. Texarkana is the principal city of the Texarkana metropolitan area, which is ranked 274th in terms of population in the United States with 150,098 in 2016 according to the United States Census Bureau.

University of Arkansas System

The University of Arkansas System comprises six campuses within the state of Arkansas; a medical school; two law schools; a unique graduate school focused on public service; a HBCU, statewide research, service and educational units for agriculture, criminal justice and archeology; and several community colleges. Over 50,000 students are enrolled in over 188 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

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References

  1. 1 2 Brantley, Max (June 15, 2010). "Justice-elect to divorce" . Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Associate Justice Courtney Hudson Goodson, Position 3". Arkansas Supreme Court. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  3. "Justice Courtney Goodson, formerly of Harrison, aims at chief justice spot" . Harrison Daily Times. Harrison, Arkansas. September 2, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Moritz, John (May 23, 2018). "Goodson, Sterling in Arkansas Supreme Court runoff". Little Rock: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  5. Brantley, Max (September 2, 2015). "Courtney Goodson makes expected announcement for chief justice". Arkansas Times. Retrieved May 26, 2018.