Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker declared null and void two per curiam orders issued by five associate court justices who claim Baker does not have the authority to unilaterally fire Administrative Office of the Courts employees or appoint new judges to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission.

The Arkansas Supreme Court remains divided over Chief Justice Karen Baker’s decision to remove the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. A five-justice majority has challenged Baker’s

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas’ Supreme Court and its chief justice are publicly feuding, days after she was sworn into office, over who has the authority to fire the court’s top officials.

Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker on Wednesday declared invalid two per curiam orders her fellow justices issued in the past week, the latest development in an ongoing dispute over the scope of her authority.

The new chief justice says the constitution gives her administrative control of the court and is not subject to majority vote.

Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker cited a non-official memo from her predecessor as the basis for her administrative authority in a mass email sent to judicial employees Monday. Former Chief Justice John Dan Kemp wrote and signed a memo in February 2017,

Certain members of the court took issue with the chief justice's appointments to the Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission.