Outspoken Arkansas Appeals Judge Loses Election

An appeals judge in Arkansas who fought for the right to criticize President Bush has lost his re-election bid.

Wendell Griffen “lost decisively,” the Associated Press reports.

Last year a state judicial discipline panel dropped charges against the outspoken Griffen for remarks made outside the courtroom.

The ethics complaint had cited Griffen for comments on current events, including his criticism of the Iraq war, the government response to Hurricane Katrina, and President Bush’s nomination of John G. Roberts Jr. to be chief justice.