As a proud former Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, I have always believed in limited government, free markets, and the rule of law. Conservatives rightly champion business, economic growth, and the entrepreneurial spirit that powers both our state and nation.

But we also understand a fundamental truth: Wrongdoers must be held accountable. Criminals don't respond to lectures; they respond to consequences. The same principle applies in civil justice. When companies knowingly put profits over people, endangering families with reckless decisions, they cannot hide behind immunity.

That is why the recent unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II LLC deserves our commendation. In a 9-0 ruling written by Trump appointee Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court sided with an injured plaintiff against powerful special interests. It held that freight brokers can be sued under state law for negligently hiring unsafe trucking companies--those with poor safety records that "weaponize" heavy vehicles on our roads.

This wasn't judicial activism. It was a straightforward application of the law's safety exception, preserving states' authority to protect their citizens. The most conservative court in a........

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