Arkansas finance official says state won’t pay corrections board legal fees

By: Ainsley Platt

Outlets: Arkansas Advocate

Published: January 10, 2026

Words: 499

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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The head of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said the state won’t pay the lawyer hired by the corrections board to represent it in lawsuits against the governor.

Jim Hudson said in a letter Tuesday to the Department of Corrections that paying attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan $300,000 would violate state law and Arkansas’ constitution, saying that the board did not follow state procurement procedures.

The rejection is the latest setback for the Board …

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