Robinson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, LLC D/b/a Robinson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; Central Arkansas…

Summary

The court denied an individual justice's motion to recuse from an appeal involving nursing-home businesses whose alleged owner had contributed to her judicial campaign. Applying the reasonable-observer standard and the relevant campaign-contribution factors, the court concluded that the retained contributions, lack of campaign involvement, substantial time before submission, nature of the appeal, and absence of a personal relationship did not create a reasonable question about impartiality. The opinion emphasized both the duty to recuse when warranted and the equal duty to sit when recusal is not justified.