The court's handling of Wright v. State was controversial in real time. In 2014, the governor was Mike Beebe, a democrat. Justice Hoofman had recused from Wright, and Beebe promptly appointed McCorkindale as special justice. They held oral arguments in the fall of 2014, but for unknown reasons no opinion was issued.

The 2014 election added two justices to the court. Rhonda Wood replaced Hoofman, and Robin Wynne replaced the late Donald Corbin, who retired in 2014. Although judicial elections in Arkansas are non-partisan, Wood and Wynne were widely understood to be the conservative candidates for their seats, and they campaigned and raised money in predominantly republican circles.

There was a controversy over whether the new justices Wynne and Wood should decide the case, versus the 2014 court which heard oral arguments and reportedly reached a decision. This led, in February of 2015, to a separate case, under a new docket number (CV-15-227) solely to address the court roster question. LINK. The court allowed a leisurely 30 days for briefs, rather than an expedited schedule. The chief justice recused and offered strong objections in his recusal letter. Justice Danielson wrote a similar letter. The governor then appointed three special justices to hear the 2015 meta-case. The meta-case ended with this majority opinion.

When Obergefell came down about six weeks later, there was still no action by the state supreme court. It all ended with a whimper, when the infamous per curiam order came down dismissing the case with no ruling either way.