At least one contested judicial race seems likely next year.

Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland of Conway apparently has decided to run for an open seat on the state Court of Appeals created by Rhonda Wood’s successful race for the Arkansas Supreme Court. He says he hasn’t made a final decision, but all the indicators I’m receiving say the answer is “yes.”

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Circuit Judge Michael Murphy of Conway earlier announced for the seat, held on an interim basis by Cliff Hoofman. Word began circulating today that Hiland was getting in the race.He’s a Republican and isn’t likely to hide that association, as has been the pattern in many Faulkner judicial races before, including by Rhonda Woods and Mike Maggio, until he got defrocked.

HIland had a hot race to win the prosecutor’s office in 2010, but has won some headlines for major prosecutions, including serving as a special prosecutor in some politically tinged cases around the state.

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