Courting appeals
For Molly McNulty
Did we mention (yesterday) this year’s judicial candidates are so outstanding that we’re having trouble endorsing in some of these races? It does an inky wretch’s heart good to know that at least the judiciary will be taken care of. Not only in this election cycle, but in the election cycles to come. We get the feeling that, for years, Arkansans will have a professional judiciary that will protect rights, interpret laws, and generally do the right legal thing(s) even when nobody is looking.
In the court of appeals race this year—District 6, Position 1 on your scorecards and ballots—all three candidates could/would do a great job. They all have experience. They all have a certain judicial temperament and dignity that outs at the first handshake. Pam Hathaway has worked as a law clerk in the appellate courts for more than 25 years and several appellate judges have endorsed her. Judge Casey Tucker is already a circuit judge and has 23 years of trial experience under her belt. If either wins, Arkansas wins.
In our book, Molly McNulty edges them. She also has experience specific to the appellate courts, and has written hundreds of opinions—and draft opinions—on these issues that come before court of appeals. Her community involvement resume might have to be indexed, there’s so much of it. From the Rotary to the Rep to Leadership Greater Little Rock to board of directors for . . . . We don’t have the space to list it all here. So we refer you to mollymcnulty.com, where the pages of chairmanships and secretaries and co-chairs and committee memberships and the like start to add up.
When you talk to Molly McNulty, there seems to be a passion for public service—she has a master’s degree in public service from the U of A Clinton School of Public Service—and has done so much, so early, so often, in the community. One gets the feeling this wouldn’t be just a job for her. But time on this court would be more of a . . . public service.
“I still believe that public service is a noble calling,” McNulty told the paper. “I grew up in a family where hard work and giving back were not only encouraged but were expected, and I’m committed to contributing to our community.
“My upbringing, education and extensive experience combined with my unwavering faith and commitment to public service guarantee that I approach the responsibilities of the court with the highest integrity and impartiality, and my community involvement has provided me with an understanding of the people of our great state and an appreciation of the profound impact that Court of Appeals decisions have on all of our lives.”
In a judicial race like this, one wishes that there were more seats available on the Court of Appeals, so all three candidates could move up to work for Arkansas. But if voters can only get one—and this year that’s the limit— then Molly McNulty edges the field in our book.
Be thankful, Arkansas. Races like this don’t happen often.