Rudofsky Out of Eighth Circuit Consideration; Hiland Reportedly Next in Line
Lee Rudofsky, a federal judge in Little Rock, is no longer in the running for a promotion to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Cody Hiland, an Arkansas Supreme Court Justice, is reportedly the expected nominee to take his place…
Little Rock Pine Bluff, AR, November 10, 2026 — U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky, based in Little Rock, will not be proceeding with consideration for a promotion to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The specific reasons for Rudofsky’s removal from the promotion pipeline were not immediately available.
In light of Rudofsky’s status, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Cody Hiland is reportedly the individual expected to be nominated for the federal appellate court position. Details regarding the official nomination process or a timeline for an announcement were not provided in the available information.
Rudofsky has served as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Hiland currently holds a position on the Arkansas Supreme Court.
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals hears cases from federal district courts in eight states: Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The nomination and confirmation process for federal judges is typically a lengthy procedure involving the White House, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Senate.
Information regarding the precise nature of the vacancy or the specific judicial pathway Rudofsky was pursuing was not detailed. Similarly, confirmation of Cody Hiland’s nomination and further details about his background or qualifications for the appellate role were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Austin Gelder on arktimes.com, see more information here.
