The following links are to articles that tell the ongoing story of a lawsuit that Mike Easley brought on behalf of Arnell Willis against Jack Crumbley and the St. Francis County Commission alleging possible voter fraud. The lawsuit was filed following the June 2006 run-off election, which Crumbley won by 78 votes In this complaint, The Election Commission Chairman Frederick is accused of misconduct and the St. Francis County clerk and county poll workers are accused of making election–related mistakes. It also questions the legitimacy of 265 votes. The case has taken many twists and turns and has ended up in the State Senate. For more information on this and other cases, please contact The Easley Houseal Law Firm at 870-633-1447.

This historic trial—the first ever in Arkansas—was held March 25th and 26th, and was the lead story on statewide evening news. In a major victory for the public, the Senate has ordered future monitoring of St. Francis County elections, and has requested a full scale investigation by federal authorities of the fraud and corruption here. Although the Senate panel unanimously found that fraud was rampant in the election, it voted 4-3 for our client’s opponent to retain his seat. Soon the entire Senate will vote as to whether to uphold the recommendation. We hope to convince the Senate that fraud should never be rewarded, and that the seat at issue should be declared vacant. Watch TV and radio for results.

• "Senate committee chairman says Long's recusal too little, too late" | Times-Herald, 04-30-2008
• "Long to step aside in runoff inquest" | Times-Herald, 04-23-2008
• "Senate Committe: Crumbly keeps seat" | Times-Herald, 04-21-2008
• "Election officials welcome investigation of voting practices" | Times-Herald, 04-21-2008
• "Andrew DeMillo: Hearings put Ark. elections in harsh spotlight " | Thecabin.net, 03-31-2008
• "Panel deliberates vote-contest case" | Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 03-28-2008
• "Group meeting in closed session to consider two days of testimony" | Times-Herald, 03-28-2008
• "Ark. Senate panel opens hearing on disputed 2006 runoff election" | Times-Herald, 03-25-2008
• "Willis, Freeman among first witnesses to take the stand in landmark case" | Times-Herald, 03-25-2008
• "Easley outlines allegations in brief filed with Senate" | Times-Herald, 03-05-2008
• "Evidence being studied from 2006 run-off" | Forrest City Times-Herald, 01-27-2008
• "Senate sets March dates to hear Willis-Crumbly election contest" | Times-Herald, 02-14-2008
• "Attorney in Crumbly-Willis lawsuit files petition with state committee" | Times-Herald, 02-12-2008
• "Election lawsuit dismissed for a third time - Willis attorney says he will appeal ruling by special judge to state Supreme Court" | Times-Herald, 02-04-2008Attorney for Willis responds to motion for dismissal" | Times-Herald, 02-01-2008
• "Suit over election may be dismissed - Judge says motion should be taken seriously" | Times-Herald, 01-23-2008
• "Crumbly attorneys request dismissal of election lawsuit" | Times-Herald, 01-22-2008
• "Democrats fill committee seats for election year - Group agrees to wait until February to determine filing fees for primary" | Times-Herald, 01-21-2008
• "February trial dates set for Willis/Crumbly lawsuit" | Times-Herald, 01-09-2008
• "Motion seeks to disqualify prosecutor from lawsuit" | Times-Herald, 12-26-2007
• "New judge to hear Senate case" | Times-Herald, 12-14-2007
• "State Chief Justice to assign different judge to hear lawsuit between Willis and Crumbly" | Times-Herald, 12-13-2007
• "Special judge named in Senate case - Retired Arkansas County official tapped by Supreme Court Justice to hear Crumbly/Willis lawsuit" | Times-Herald, 12-11-2007
• "Simes formally requests new judge in election case" | Times-Herald, 12-06-2007
• "New judge to hear case over election - Simes to recuse in effort to allow case to be heard quickly" | Times-Herald, 12-04-2007
• "Judge sets trial date for Crumbly/Willis - St. Francis County Chancery Courtroom to be setting for Nov. 26 hearing over Senate seat" | Times-Herald, 11-16-2007
• "Crumbly/Willis lawsuit headed back to SFC Circuit Court" | Times-Herald, 11-15-2007
• "Crumbly/Willis lawsuit heard by Arkansas Supreme Court" | Times-Herald, 10-05-2007
• "State Supreme Court to hear Willis/Crumbly case" | Times-Herald, 08-09-2007
• "Judge to rule Tuesday on attorney's motions in suit filed over run-off - Lawyers argue whether case can be tried locally" | Times-Herald, 09-14-2007
• "Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking primary recount - Cross-complaint filed by Willis also tossed" | Times-Herald, 08-23-2007
  

E-Mail: mike.easley@ehtriallawyers.com