LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Democratic congressional candidate Clark Hall is criticizing rival Scott Ellington's role in a deal that freed the three men who were convicted of killing three Cub Scouts in West Memphis. Ellington is questioning Hall's vote against giving the children of military veterans killed in the line of duty priority for lottery-funded scholarships.

The two candidates for the 1st Congressional District debated on Little Rock television station KARK on Wednesday. They are running in the June 12 runoff for the Democratic nomination.

Hall, a state representative, said many in the district are concerned over Ellington's agreement as prosecutor to the deal that freed the men known as the "West Memphis Three." Ellington questioned why Hall opposed the scholarship legislation last year. Ellington said he would have voted for it.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)