Arkansas

Former Arkansas Judge Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Lying to FBI After Scandalous Proposition

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Helena-West Helena, Ark. — A former district court judge has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after being convicted of making false statements to the FBI. Thomas David Carruth, 64, of Clarendon, was found guilty of this charge, although he was acquitted of more serious allegations, including bribery and fraud. The sentencing took place on Monday before United States District Court Judge D. Price Marshall Jr., who imposed a 24-month prison term on Carruth. Court documents highlighted that Carruth had previously presided over both criminal and civil cases during his tenure. In April … Read more

Arkansas Journalist Dale Ellis Shares Insights from the Federal Courthouse: A Career Spanning Decades in Reporting

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Dale Ellis covers federal courthouse proceedings in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he reports on significant criminal and civil issues affecting residents. He has been with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since January 2018, initially based in Pine Bluff before shifting to his current focus in January 2021. Ellis began his journalism career in 1998 at the Heber Springs Sun-Times, where he served as both a reporter and columnist. He has extensive experience in various capacities, having held the position of managing editor at the Searcy Daily Citizen and the Wynne Progress. His background also includes work in … Read more

Court Blocks Arkansas’ Latest Social Media Law Aimed at Protecting Minors, Citing Free Speech Concerns

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — In a significant decision, a court has once again declared Arkansas’ latest effort to regulate minors’ access to social media unconstitutional, marking a continued struggle between state governments and advocates of free speech and privacy. The struck-down Social Media Safety Act, also known as SB 689, follows the trajectory of its predecessor, SB 396, which fell to a similar fate earlier in 2023. The legislation aimed to impose stringent controls over how young people interact with social media platforms, requiring users to prove they are at least 18 or obtain parental … Read more

Federal Judge Blocks Arkansas Law Requiring ID Verification for Social Media, Citing First Amendment Violations

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A recent federal court ruling has blocked Arkansas from enforcing a new law that would require social media users to verify their age and obtain parental consent for minors. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks determined that the law, known as Act 689, infringes on First Amendment rights by imposing a content-based restriction on speech that fails to adequately serve a significant governmental interest. Judge Brooks also noted that the law could lead to violations of due process rights as outlined in the Fourteenth Amendment due to its vague nature. The decision … Read more