The Latest: Arkansas judge says outside campaign ads can air

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Latest on an out-of-state group advertising in the race for an Arkansas Supreme Court seat (all times local):

4:50 p.m.

An Arkansas judge has ruled that some TV stations can resume running an out-of-state conservative group’s ad criticizing a state Supreme Court justice seeking re-election, and the ruling comes just hours after another judge blocked other stations from airing it.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce on Friday denied a request to prevent northwest Arkansas stations from running the Judicial Crisis Network’s ad targeting Justice Courtney Goodson. Pierce was assigned to handle the case after a Washington County judge who had temporarily blocked the ad recused himself following questions about a potential conflict of interest.

Pierce’s ruling came hours after another Pulaski County judge ordered several Little Rock-area stations to stop running the ad through the May 22 non-partisan judicial election. Goodson is being challenged by Appeals Court Judge Kenneth Hixson and state Department of Human Services Chief Counsel David Sterling

Goodson has called the ads false and defamatory.

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1:20 p.m.

A second Arkansas judge has prevented TV stations from airing a conservative group’s ad attacking a state Supreme Court justice who is running for re-election.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza on Friday ordered stations in the Little Rock area to stop running the Judicial Crisis Network’s ads targeting Justice Courtney Goodson.

Goodson challenged by Appeals Court Judge Kenneth Hixson and state Department of Human Services Chief Counsel David Sterling in Tuesday’s non-partisan judicial election.

A northwest Arkansas judge earlier this week ordered some stations to stop running the ad. A hearing was scheduled Friday afternoon on a request to dissolve that order.