Arkansas Supreme Court suspends circuit judge (UALR Public Radio) - The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday suspended an eastern Arkansas judge from the bench until the end of his term in late 2010, ruling that he continued to practice law while serving as a circuit judge.

Justices suspended Phillips County Circuit Judge L.T. Simes without pay until Dec. 31, 2010. The court said Simes could seek office again, rejecting a recommendation from the state panel that disciplines judges.

The discipline panel said Simes continued to make money as a lawyer after his election to the bench in 1997. It had recommended that Simes be permanently barred from serving as a judge again.

The court said that Simes could not practice law during his suspension.

Simes said he had been fired from acting as administrator of an estate, but records show he billed for work on the case after he became a judge in 1997.

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