News/Events

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the arrest of an Izard County man for crimes involving children.

Steven Eldridge, 63, of Melbourne, was arrested by the Attorney General’s office Cyber Crimes Unit on four counts of distributing, possessing or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony. He is currently being held on bond at the Izard County Detention Facility.

Special agents in the Attorney General’s office had previously seized multiple computers and external hard drives from the home. The file will be turned over to 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Holly Meyer when completed.

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court’s decision to deny certiorari in Planned Parenthood v. Jegley today.

“As Attorney General, I have fully defended this law at every turn and applaud the Supreme Court’s decision against Planned Parenthood today. Protecting the health and well-being of women and the unborn will always be a priority. We are a pro-life state and always will be as long as I am Attorney General.”

Says, ‘I offer my heartfelt prayers and appreciation to the families of fallen soldiers across our state’

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released a statement today in observance of Memorial Day.

“Today we pause to remember the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. These individuals stood firm in protecting the United States and our freedoms. I offer my heartfelt prayers and appreciation to the families of fallen soldiers across our state as we honor their courage, devotion and sacrifice. Let us never forget our fallen heroes.”

Rutledge will attend the City of Maumelle’s annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at Lake Willastein Park in Maumelle. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and is open to the public.

The Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision reaffirms the Attorney General’s call for the General Assembly to clarify the ballot measure process

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has announced that in light of the Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision today in Couch v. Rutledge, she is certifying ballot titles for proposals to raise the minimum wage, authorize casino gaming, and revise the legislative redistricting process. Attorney General Rutledge is rejecting a proposal that would legalize marijuana because of insufficiencies and fundamental flaws in the text of the measure.

“I have issued opinions on ballot proposals based on standards set forth in statutes as well as case law of the Arkansas Supreme Court,” said Rutledge. “However, the Arkansas Supreme Court has once again muddied the waters on these standards by offering no insight in its decision requiring me to certify or substitute language of a ballot title that I had previously rejected. In light of the Arkansas Supreme Court’s failure to put forth clear standards, I am certifying these proposals in an exercise of caution to ensure Arkansans are given an opportunity to put these measures on the ballot.”

“To be clear, today’s certifications do not prevent a citizen from legally challenging a ballot proposal once the required number of signatures are submitted to the Arkansas Secretary of State. Therefore, it is a real possibility that any one or all of the certified proposals will not appear on the ballot in November.”

“The Arkansas Supreme Court’s failure to include clear standards and reasoning has only exacerbated the confusion surrounding ballot title submissions. As I stated last week, I am calling on the General Assembly to create a system ensuring Arkansans have a clear and fair process to amend the constitution and place initiatives on the ballot.”