Arkansas Attorney arrested at Bar Association meeting for political activity.

[TomSlick]

An Arkansas attorney was dragged by the Hot Springs police from the state Bar Association meeting for soliciting signatures on a petition for a proposed initiated act to reinforce the Arkansas FOIA after attacks from the GOP dominated Legislature and Governor.

https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/06/14/attorney-arrested-at-arkansas-bar-association-meeting-in-hot-springs-for-carrying-foia-petitions

The Hot Spring Convention Center belongs to the City of Hot Springs. The Bar meetings have always been a forum for political activity. I have not been able to ascertain what, if any, involvement any officer or staff of the Bar Association had in the affair. I have not been able to determine whether the attorney was released from custody or has been charged.

In my opinion, any lawyer involved in the affair has violated their attorney's oath to support the Constitution.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Who do you think was behind the arrest?

What was the agenda against this attorney?

I don't know much about her organization, but sounds like a request for the transparency of gov't officials?

[TomSlick]

2. I don't know who was really behind this but mean to find out.

I am not completely sold on the proposed initiated act only because I think it does not go far enough.

In any event, there is no excuse for dragging a lawyer from the Bar Association meeting in handcuffs for circulating petitions. Political activities have been a staple of Association meetings for as long as I can remember and I've been a member for over 40 years.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Yes it is obvious she did nothing out of the norm.

It is a political setting by history and tradition.

And then the public humiliation of being arrested in front of her colleagues and judges, etc.
With handcuffs. That is ridiculous. She was carrying around a clipboard. Left her other materials in her car.

No one was in danger, she did not violate the law, etc.

Generally in other professions, the regulating board handles matters quietly, in a careful and prudent way.

Sounds like a political hit job, someone with an agenda against this woman.
They were gunning for her right away.

It is either personal or the cause she is fighting for.
But that doesn't make sense, you are saying the proposed bill is somewhat watered
down and does not go far enough.

We don't know if it is personal or business. But someone was sending a loud, clear public message.

Yes see if you can ask some back channel questions.
But be careful Tom, there is someone very nasty and vindictive behind this.

[TomSlick]

4. The proposed initiated act is not what I would have written but is is opposed by the Arkansas GOP.

I have my sources. I will find the truth.

[Irish_Dem]

5. So we have a possible motive.

The GOP does not want transparency.

But it seems a bit more than that perhaps.
Something personal perhaps.

The way it went down was almost personal, not political.
Maybe some of both.

But the GOP is now making everything a threat and quite personal.
Maybe a public warning to others. As I said, a message is being sent?

This is how things are done in Russia and China to stop all dissent.
Very public arrests, loss of job, prison, death.
So an object lesson to all other attorneys in Arkansas.

Just watch your back when you nose around.

[RazorbackExpat]

6. What is it with Hot Springs?

Remember when there was a runoff election between Bill Halter and Blanche Lincoln for the Democratic nomination for Senator, but there were only 2 polling places in Garland County (including one in a gated community), which was Bill's home county? Someone was determined to make sure that Blanche got the nomination, even though by then she didn't have an ice cube's chance in the general election