The same two panel members sat on every decision – now the Title VII claim moves forward
Four promotions, four rejections, and two of the same decision-panel members every time – one Arkansas officer's discrimination case is moving forward.
On April 9, 2026, the Supreme Court of Arkansas handed down a decision allowing a Title VII employment discrimination claim to proceed against a state law enforcement agency. The case centers on allegations by Officer Raunona Mays, an African American woman who has served with the Arkansas Highway Police since 2004, that she was repeatedly passed over for promotions in favor of less-qualified candidates.
Between 2022 and 2023, Mays applied for four lieutenant-level positions within the agency. She did not get any of them. According to her complaint, each role went to a candidate who was either less qualified or no more qualified than she was.
The first promotion went to Doug Lafferty, who Mays alleges had six fewer years of seniority, held a degree in art history compared to her criminal justice degree, and had been sanctioned for failing to document verbal discipline he had given to another officer. The second and third promotions went to Chad Heath, a Caucasian male who Mays says had no more time in service and no higher academic degree than she did. The fourth went to Sergeant Winfrey, who she alleges had less service time and less education.
One detail stands out across all four promotion cycles: the same two individuals – Nancy...
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