Arkansas Courts

Three men have filed a lawsuit against an Arkansas judge, alleging they were the victims of sexual misconduct or abuse while they were defendants in his court.

Part-time Cross County District Judge Joe Boeckmann resigned Monday amid an investigation by the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission into allegations he had inappropriate sexual relationships with male defendants dating back to his time as a prosecutor.

An Arkansas judge accused of having inappropriate sexual relationships with male defendants has resigned.

David Sachar, the executive director of the state's Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, said Monday that part-time Cross County District Judge Joe Boeckmann had submitted his letter of resignation.

Boeckmann has agreed to never seek public office again at the state or local level.

A lawsuit against Craighead County claims that everyone who has been sentenced in circuit court may have been unlawfully charged an $86 fee.

The Jonesboro Sun reports that the county may owe those defendants the money if a circuit judge agrees with the claim. Attorney Mark Rees argues on behalf of Christopher Miles and all other similarly situated persons that the county collected $236 in court costs from individuals who were issued a judgment.

Arkansas Code sets a $150 cost for misdemeanor or felony violations of state law in circuit court.

The Arkansas Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit by death row inmates that challenges the state's execution law.

The court issued a brief statement Thursday granting the request for oral argument by the inmates' attorneys. The statement says a date will be set later.

Nine inmates have asked justices to uphold a circuit judge's decision to strike down the portion of the law that blocks state officials from revealing where Arkansas gets its execution drugs.

The FBI is backing away from an Arkansas prosecutor's statement that its agents would help unlock an iPhone and iPod belonging to two teenagers accused of killing a couple, saying it hasn't examined the devices and isn't sure whether it can help.

The FBI's statement Thursday didn't rule out help in the Arkansas case, but said that without more details, it doesn't know whether its agents can access the devices.