Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has appointed a new secretary of state and two justices to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
In a news release Friday, Sanders announced her chief deputy legal counsel, Cole Jester, will serve as secretary of state. He replaces incumbent John Thurston, who was elected to the State Treasurer's position in November.
“If my team ever needs someone to do a deep dive on the law, prep for a court hearing, or craft a brilliant defense of conservative legal philosophy, one of the first people I always ask is Cole Jester,” Sanders said. “So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that when I was looking for someone to defend election integrity as Secretary of State, Cole Jester was my first choice,”
In Arkansas, the secretary of state oversees elections, business licensing and the grounds of the state Capitol building. Jester thanked the governor in a statement.
“The people of Arkansas deserve a Secretary of State who will fight for them and for our shared values day in and day out, and I will fulfill that sacred responsibility. In partnership with the Governor, we will work to ensure Arkansas is the greatest state in the nation through election security, public safety, and efficient service to Arkansans,” he said.
Sanders also appointed Cody Hiland and Nicholas Bronni to serve as Supreme Court justices. Hiland previously served as a federal prosecutor and as chair of the Republican Party of Arkansas, and currently serves as a Supreme Court justice. He was appointed to the bench in 2023 following the death of Justice Robin Wynne. He now replaces Justice Courtney Hudson, who was elected to Wynne’s former seat in November.
Bronni currently serves as Solicitor General of Arkansas, representing the state in appellate and high-profile national litigation. He fills the vacancy left by Justice Karen Baker, who was elected to serve as the court’s chief justice in November.
“Cody’s first 18 months on the Supreme Court have shown everyone what we already knew: he’s sharp, he’s honest, and above all, he’s dedicated to the people of Arkansas and our Constitution. Nick has defended our state and laws as Arkansas’ Solicitor General, and I know he will do an excellent job interpreting them on the bench,” the governor said.
“Together, these two appointees cement our conservative Supreme Court majority and will ensure laws are interpreted as written, calling balls and strikes and leaving the legislating to the legislators.”
Attorney General Tim Griffin reacted to Bronni’s appointment in a news release Friday.
“It is obvious to anyone who has observed Nick’s work that he is one of the best legal minds in Arkansas and is indisputably a national-caliber talent as evidenced by his two successful arguments before the United States Supreme Court. I know he will serve the people of Arkansas well on our state’s highest court,” Griffin said, adding he’s appointed Deputy Solicitor General Dylan Jacobs as Interim Solicitor General.
All three appointees will begin their new roles on January 1.
