Duffey's Reinstatement Blocked

When Jean Duffey moved to Texas in 1991, she had no intentions of
involving herself in Arkansas politics and corruption again. She
even let her law license lapses for failure to comply with the yearly
requirement of hours in legal education courses. Then, things changed
when the FBI contacted her in March of 1994. They persuaded her to
assist in an investigation they had opened of the "train deaths" by
telling her they recommended U.S. Attorney Chuck Banks be charged
with obstruction of justice for clearing Dan Harmon of allegations
made by her drug task force in 1990.

When the FBI investigation made inevitable links to Mena drug smuggling,
that investigation was shut down cold and in November of 1995, Linda
Ives was told by Special Agent Bill Temple that she should consider that a
crime had not even been committed. That was the final blow. Linda and Jean
cooperated in the production and promotion of "Obstruction of Justice"
and vowed to raise enough money to file a civil suit against Dan Harmon and
others involved in the murders and cover-ups.

Now that the prospect of Linda's civil suit has become a reality, Jean
decided to petition the Arkansas Supreme Court for reinstatement of her
law license. She paid the $1000.00 application fees and completed a
lengthy application on February 4, 1997. When she had heard nothing
back in several weeks, she contacted Chris Thomas, director of the
application process who told her there were judges and attorneys in Saline
County who did not want to see her license renewed. He said he would have
to investigate any and all allegations against her. Jean waited another
several weeks and contacted Thomas again. This time Thomas told her
that no one was willing to go on record with any specific allegation
against Jean, so the licensing board chairman had approved the
reinstatement. Then, Jean received a letter from Thomas on April 23,
1997. It said reinstatement of her license is being withheld because
Paula Casey would not confirm to Thomas that Jean is not a "suspect"
or a "target" of the recent investigation of Saline County affairs.

Casey suggested Thomas talk to Jean and when he did, Jean told him in no
uncertain terms that she had nothing whatever to do with the investigation.
They were, in fact, ignoring any evidence that had been presented by Jean's
task force back in 1990, even though the federal grand jury was unanimously
ready to indict Harmon then. The April, 1997 indictment against Harmon date
back to only August of 1991. Jean was not even in the state during that
period of time - she was not an investigator or a witness, much less a
suspect or a target. This did not satisfy Thomas. He wants some kind of
assurance from the U.S. Attorney's office which is apparently not willing
to give it.

Duffey says there is no rational justification for Thomas to even
consider the possibility of her being a suspect or target. Is
there no limit to the injustices of Arkansas politics? Dan Harmon
still has his law license, but Jean Duffey cannot get hers reinstated.