Arkansas AG requests expedited appeal of LEARNS Act ruling

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Wednesday filed a motion to expedite his appeal of a circuit court ruling that delays the effective date of the LEARNS Act, the governor’s signature education legislation. Griffin asked that the state Supreme Court respond by 8 a.m. Friday.

Griffin filed an appeal on July 3 of an order invalidating the law’s emergency clause, which would allow it go into effect immediately instead of 91 days after the end of the legislative session.

Pulaski County Judge Herbert Wright last month ruled the law’s emergency clause is invalid because it was not passed with a separate roll-call vote garnering a two-thirds majority, as required by the Arkansas Constitution.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-07-13/arkansas-ag-requests-expedited-appeal-of-learns-act-ruling

Courts.Arkansas.Gov/Courts.Arkansas.Gov

Arkansas judge hears arguments on LEARNS emergency clause, expects to rule in coming days

KUAR | By Antoinette Grajeda / Arkansas Advocate

Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Herbert Wright said Tuesday that he’ll issue a ruling in a week or two on the effective date of the LEARNS Act, the governor’s signature education legislation.

The plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the law argue it is not yet in effect due to a defective emergency clause. An emergency clause allows legislation to take effect immediately instead of 91 days after the end of the legislative session.

They also argued the Legislature failed to establish that an emergency existed that made immediate implementation of the law necessary.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-06-21/arkansas-judge-hears-arguments-on-learns-emergency-clause-expects-to-rule-in-coming-days

Charlie Neibergall/AP

Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Herbert Wright said Tuesday that he’ll issue a ruling in a week or two on the effective date of the LEARNS Act.