Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Barbara Webb has been recovering from a head injury sustained at her home in early May and is expected to return to the court by its fall term, her husband confirmed Thursday.
Medical recovery sidelines justice during key cases
Doyle Webb, a former state senator and current Arkansas Public Service Commission chairman, said his wife, 69, injured her head on May 6, underwent surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences the next day and has been recuperating at a medical facility in Houston. The high court first disclosed her absence on May 12.
Chief Justice Karen Baker notified Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders that Webb was “temporarily unable to serve” while the court heard several matters, including two constitutional challenges, two criminal appeals and a civil appeal. The court later appointed a special justice, Cory Cox, to hear the constitutional challenges.
"temporarily unable to serve"
Impact on the court and pending cases
The two constitutional challenges concerned lower-court rulings that Gov. Sanders violated the state constitution in arranging special elections for two vacant legislative seats. The high court dismissed those cases as moot after the special elections were held. Webb’s absence therefore required a temporary replacement for votes and deliberations in high-profile matters.
- Injury date: May 6 — head injury at home
- Surgery: May 7 at UAMS
- Absence disclosed: May 12
- Recovery location: healthcare facility in Houston
- Expected return: by the court’s fall term, according to her husband
Webb was elected to an eight-year term on the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2020 and was an unsuccessful candidate for chief justice in 2024. The high court is officially nonpartisan, but a 5-2 majority of justices are linked to the Republican party—Webb among them. Before joining the high court, she served as chief law judge at the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, was the first female circuit judge for Saline County and worked as a prosecuting attorney.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 6 | Webb sustained a head injury at home |
| May 7 | Surgery at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences |
| May 12 | Court disclosed she was temporarily unable to serve |
| July 16 | Husband confirmed recovery status and expected return by fall |
What this means locally
The temporary absence of a sitting justice matters for Arkansas residents because it can affect the timing and outcome of high-court decisions on constitutional and criminal issues. The governor’s appointment of a special justice to hear particular cases preserved the court’s ability to function, but the substitution highlights how an unexpected medical leave can require rapid administrative moves to keep the court’s docket moving.
Doyle Webb said he expects Justice Webb to resume her duties by the court’s fall term. The court’s schedule and future cases will determine how long her absence ultimately affects deliberations and rulings.
Reporting for News Block; information in this article is based on family confirmation and court notices disclosed publicly.
