LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Two different Pulaski County judges issued two opposite rulings Friday in an Arkansas Supreme Court justice's lawsuit against the state's television stations.
Circuit Judge Chris Piazza ruled central Arkansas broadcasters must stop running an out-of-state group's attack ad against Courtney Goodson until after Tuesday's primary election.
"There's something obscene about what's going on with the type of judicial advertising that's airing right now," he told his courtroom. "They really are misleading."
Judge Piazza determined Goodson has a good chance of proving the Judicial Crisis Network ads are defamatory at a later trial, arguing a court could find actual malice against the television stations.
That got reaction from the defense attorneys. They argued no case in Arkansas history has found actual malice against broadcasters.
Hours later, Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce decided stations in northwest Arkansas could air the ads.
We caught up with Goodson after the first hearing. She was all smiles after her unexpected win in what she calls a "David and Goliath fight."
"Someone has to fight this fight and that person is me, this working mother of three from Arkansas, to take on these mega millionaires who are pouring endless amounts of money into Arkansas to try to buy our courts," she said. "This is our opportunity to step forward and say, 'Our courts are not for sale, and we will have fair elections in this state.'"
Piazza hinted if the justice's attorney reformats her case as he suggested, it has the potential to make it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court since it deals with the First Amendment. Goodson said that is what she is hoping for.
Attorneys for several of the central Arkansas television companies argued the ads are protected free speech.
In the spirit of full disclosure, we were running the ad up to this point on KARK.
Goodson is running for re-election May 22 against Appeals Court Judge Kenneth Hixson and Arkansas Department of Human Services Chief Counsel David Sterling.
