Arkansas Code Title 14. Local Government § 14-51-307. Scientific and professional employees

In the case of a vacancy in a position requiring peculiar or exceptional qualifications of a scientific, professional, or expert character, upon satisfactory evidence that competition is impracticable and that the position can best be filled by the selection of some person designated who is of recognized attainment, the board may suspend by a majority vote competition in this case. However, the suspension shall not be general in its application, and each case must be handled on its own merits.