A week after CCL filed a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ordered opposing counsel to file a response in the ongoing litigation between a state trial judge and members of the Arkansas Supreme Court. 

     The judge had sued the state's highest court and its justices, challenging a recusal order issued by the Supreme Court after the judge had participated in two public protests and commented in a personal blog on matters that came before him. The Arkansas Attorney General moved for the judge's recusal, and the Court granted it, making the reassignment from the cases a permanent one. The judge then sued in federal court, arguing that his rights were violated by the recusal order.

     In response to a motion to dismiss filed by CCL, the federal court dismissed the Arkansas Supreme Court from the action, holding that it was ineligible to be sued due to sovereign immunity. The judge, however, allowed the case to continue with the justices as defendants, which prompted a joint petition for mandamus. Mandamus is considered an extraordinary remedy, and opposing counsel does not need to respond to it unless requested by the appeals court. Here, the court did just that, requiring a response as soon as was convenient. That order is considered a good sign that the Eighth Circuit could take up the request for mandamus.