Prosecuting Attorney Tom Cooper of Ashdown, Ark., will resign June 30 due to possible conflicts in becoming circuit judge for the 9th West Judicial District.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe has issued a proclamation calling for a special election to replace Cooper as prosecutor.

Cooper will become the 9th West Judicial District circuit judge Jan. 1. He was unopposed in his bid for circuit judge in the May 20 nonpartisan judicial general election and is also unopposed in the Nov. 4 general election.

“In making this decision, I considered the conflicts of interest th...