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IN RE PULASKI COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, FIFTH DIVISION, HON. WENDELL GRIFFEN

April 17, 2017

FILED

APR 17 2017

STACEY PECTOL CLERK

"Judges should maintain the dignity of judicial office at all times, and avoid both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in their professional and personal lives. They should aspire at all times to conduct that ensures the greatest possible public confidence in their independence, impartiality, integrity, and confidence." Ark. Code Judicial Conduct, Preamble.

Amendment 80, section 4, provides that this court exercises general superintending control over all the state courts. "Superintending control is an extraordinary power that is hampered by no specific rules or means." Parker v. Crow, 2010 Ark. 371, 368 S.W.3d 902. Rule 2.11 of the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct states in pertinent part, "A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which the judge  has made a public statement  that commits or appears to commit the judge to reach a particular result or rule in a particular way in the proceeding or controversy." The United States Supreme Court has explained that, "A fair trial in a fair tribunal is a basic requirement of