AR SB630

Retired judges appointed as special judges by the Chief Justice receive compensation at one-half the rate of a regularly elected circuit judge, plus retirement benefits, only if retired for four years or less; judges retired more than four years receive no compensation for special judge service.

Retired judges appointed to temporary service receive mileage and expense reimbursement only if retired for four years or less; those retired more than four years receive no reimbursement.

Per diem compensation for special judges applies to bench work and non-bench judicial duties, with compensation for off-bench work prescribed by Supreme Court rules, limited to judges retired four years or less.

Circuit court judges must recuse from cases when interested in the outcome, related to a party within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity, previously counseled or presided in the case, or otherwise disqualified under the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct, unless parties waive disqualification.

When a circuit court judge is asked to recuse by formal motion for good cause, another qualified circuit court judge from the same judicial circuit must preside over the recusal hearing; adverse rulings on recusal motions may be appealed interlocutorily to the Supreme Court.