Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday appointed Cody Hiland, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, to fill a state Supreme Court position left vacant by the death of Associate Justice Robin Wynne last month.
Hiland served as U.S. attorney from 2017 to 2020 after being appointed by Sanders’ old boss, former President Donald Trump. Hiland was previously the prosecuting attorney for the state’s 20th Judicial District, which covers Faulkner, Van Buren and Searcy counties.
He joined Sanders’ campaign for governor in 2022 after a stint as the Department of Public Safety’s chief counsel. Most recently, he was chair of the Republican Party of Arkansas.
Hiland is also a former legal aid to Sanders’ father, former Gov. Mike Huckabee.
In a news conference, Sanders said Hiland will serve as an associate justice on the state’s high court until 2025. She described Hiland’s legal ideology as similar to jurists who are “bringing back strict originalism to our courts.”
“This is the first time Arkansas Supreme Court will have a conservative majority and I know it will have the same effect on our state as it has had on our country,” the Republican governor said.
Wynne of Little Rock died in June at age 70, months after he was re-elected to a second eight-year term on the court. The former Democratic state representative campaigned on his impartiality, defeating an outspoken conservative challenger.
Hiland on Monday said he felt “a little bit conflicted today, given the circumstances that necessitated today’s announcement.”
He continued: “While we acknowledge the loss, we at the same time acknowledge that we have to engage in the sobering and serious responsibility of fulfilling the legal obligations necessary to move forward with the court’s business. So, to that end, I want to thank Governor Sanders for the faith she’s placed in me serve as an associate justice with Supreme Court.”
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