A report on a human resources investigation into Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Karen Baker was made public Thursday.
This comes after Baker attempted to have the HR report suppressed, insisting in court filings that its contents did not show harassment. The report says Baker harassed employees of the state Administrative Office of the Courts, a nonpartisan group of staffers that operates the day-to-day functions of the judicial system.
“Justice Baker intimidated staff, appears to have targeted female employees of color,” the report says.
The report repeatedly refers to a Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission investigation of someone on the court, saying Baker harassed employees cooperating with the investigation into one of her colleagues. Presumably, this refers to the ongoing investigation into Supreme Court Associate Justice Courtney Hudson.
The report says an employee who behaved the way Baker did would normally be terminated to “protect employees from future harassment,” but her status as chief justice presents a “unique challenge.” Instead, the report recommends Baker be prevented from entering AOC offices or speaking to staffers until the JDDC investigation is concluded.
Baker initially attempted to shield this HR report from the public.
“Even reviewing the 'evidence' in the light most favorable to AOC,” Baker said through her attorney, “the evidence is insufficient to support a finding of 'harassment,' by any definition.”
Baker's filing did not attach the HR report, which describes the alleged incidents of harassment in detail.
Last week, justices said it was impossible for them to rule on the veracity of the report without seeing it. They gave Baker until Tuesday of this week to turn the document over. This week, Baker attempted to have the file sealed from the public, but justices ruled the file needed to be made visible. Some names, such as those of court employees, were redacted out of “fear of retaliation”
The report further details Baker allegedly entering into the office of AOC Director Marty Sullivan without permission, an incident caught on security footage. It adds more information to previous reporting, saying she visited his office multiple times on different days.
The date of the first two unauthorized entries was Dec. 4, 2024. On her first visit, Baker was seen looking behind Sullivan's desk. On the second visit, she brought other employees with her. This was also captured on video.
The same day, Baker ventured to Court Information Systems offices and was said to have made concerning comments to employees. She condemned the hiring of an investigator, presumably for the Hudson investigation, implying the investigation should be stymied.
The journey through the offices continued, with Baker accosting more employees. At one point, the report says Baker berated an unnamed employee who did not recognize her as the incoming chief justice, saying:
“I guess you didn’t vote.”
The employee responded that they did vote.
“Just not for me,” Baker asked.
The employee said, “I didn’t pay much attention to that.”
Baker walked away when the employee said it was nice to meet her. The HR report said, in her movement through court buildings, Baker “skipped” white employees opting instead to target her comments at employees of color.
Two Black employees did not recognize Baker when she came to talk to them, asking them to describe their jobs. The employees said they felt racially targeted.
A day later, on December 5, Baker came back to Sullivan's office. This time the office was locked. She went into another employee's office and told the employee to use a key they had to unlock Sullivans door.
The employee said the key on their desk would not unlock Sullivan's office. Baker insisted they were lying. She commanded the employee to allow her entry into Sullivans office. Baker took the key for herself and tried to break into Sullivans office. The key did not work.
The employee is said to have been humiliated by the interaction.
Baker allegedly made comments about “changes” coming in January. This is the month she would attempt to fire 10 court employees including Marty Sullivan.
Many had participated in the investigation against her. Her fellow justices ruled this was retaliatory.
