Arkansas Supreme Court Rejects Fee Payment Block
The court declined to expedite a request to stop payments to attorneys representing the Board of Corrections.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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The Arkansas Supreme Court issued a 4-1 decision rejecting an effort to halt potential legal payments to the law firm Hall Booth Smith. The attorney general's office had sought to block payments to the firm and attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan regarding their representation of the Board of Corrections.
Why it matters
The request stemmed from a dispute over legal representation in a lawsuit challenging state laws that aimed to shift administrative powers from the board to the governor. The attorney general sought to block these payments following legal proceedings involving the former Corrections Secretary.
The firm claims it is owed more than $307,000 in legal fees following a ruling on Oct. 7 that permits the submission of a claim. The Arkansas Supreme Court rejected the bid to stop these payments without issuing an opinion.
The players
Hall Booth Smith
This law firm served as legal counsel for the Board of Corrections in litigation regarding state hiring and firing authority.
Joe Profiri
He is the former Corrections Secretary who currently serves as a special adviser with an annual salary of $194,887.26.
Patricia James
She serves as a Pulaski County Circuit Judge who presided over the case regarding the board's legal fees.
Abtin Mehdizadegan
He is an attorney at Hall Booth Smith who was named in the attorney general's request to halt legal payments.
The details
The law firm represented the Board of Corrections during a legal challenge against Acts 185 and 659, which sought to transfer hiring and firing authority to the governor. The firm successfully argued that the attorney general's request to stop payments was premature because no fee claims have yet been filed.
Timeline
December 2023: The board sued the governor and former Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri.
January 10, 2024: The board fired Joe Profiri.
October 7, 2026: Judge Patricia James ruled the firm may submit a fee claim.
October 26, 2026: The Supreme Court rejected the request to expedite the payment block.
Legal Context
This case originates from the legal challenges mounted against Arkansas Acts 185 and 659 regarding executive hiring powers. The conflict highlights ongoing tension between the Board of Corrections and the governor’s office over administrative authority.
The ongoing litigation and the associated legal fees remain a matter of public interest regarding state spending and administrative governance. Residents may see continued activity as the firm proceeds with filing its claims for services rendered.
The takeaway
The court determined that an attempt to block legal payments was premature while the underlying fee claims remain unfiled. This decision preserves the standard legal process for the law firm to submit its invoices for judicial review.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's legal proceedings in Criminal Justice.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ArkansasOnline.
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