| Chris Piazza | |
| Office1: | Division 2 judge of the Arkansas Sixth Circuit |
| Term Start1: | 1990 |
| Predecessor2: | W. C. Bentley |
| Successor2: | Mark Stodola |
| Office2: | Prosecuting attorney of the Arkansas Sixth Circuit[1] |
| Term Start2: | 1985 |
| Term End2: | 1990 |
| Party: | Democratic (Non Partisan) |
Christopher C. Piazza is a Division 2 judge of the Arkansas Sixth Circuit.
On May 9, 2014, Piazza ruled the ban on same-sex marriage in the state of Arkansas was unconstitutional, which legalized same-sex marriage in the state.[2]
On April 16, 2010, Piazza overturned Arkansas Act 1 in the case of Arkansas Department of Human Services v. Cole which makes it illegal for any individuals cohabiting outside of a valid marriage to adopt or provide foster care to minors.[3] The ruling was upheld unanimously by the Arkansas Supreme Court on April 7, 2011.[4]
Chris Piazza is running for re-election to the Sixth Circuit. He is running unopposed in the general election for the Sixth Circuit on May 20, 2014.[5]
Piazza was appointed by Bill Clinton, during his time as Arkansas governor, to chair a panel that was drafting state ethics legislation. Due to this appointment, Piazza recused himself from a later case to disbar Clinton.[6]