by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 23) granted an expedited hearing and ordered Secretary of State John Thurston to perform an initial count of signatures collected by a group seeking to qualify an abortion amendment for the November ballot.

The court order said: “Arkansas Secretary of State is ordered to perform the initial count of signatures collected by volunteer canvassers” according to Arkansas code by Monday, July 29 at 9am.

“The court reserves the right to issue further orders and proceed in accordance with state law,” it reads.

Three Supreme Court justices signed the order, including Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, Justice Karen Baker and Justice Courtney Hudson.

Arkansas Supreme Court orders Secretary of State to count abortion ballot signatures