Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Judicial Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee authorizes an additional circuit judgeship for 19th Judicial District West
Summary
Senate Bill 234, sponsored in the House by Rep. Carol Dolby, was recommended for passage after testimony from Benton County Administrative Judge Tom Smith about population growth and rising filings in the Nineteenth Judicial District West.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to recommend passage of Senate Bill 234 after hearing from the House sponsor, Rep. Carol Dolby, and Ben County Circuit Judge Tom Smith, who serves as the district’s administrative judge.
"This is a bill requesting that the General Assembly authorize the establishment of 1 additional circuit judgeship in the Nineteenth Judicial District, west," Dolby said. She told the committee the judicial resource and assessment committee reviewed filings and recommended the judgeship to address caseload growth in northwest Arkansas.
Judge Tom Smith told the committee the counties had cooperated with the judiciary and that courtrooms are already being built in anticipation. He also described an election schedule for the new seat, saying the election would occur in February and the judge would take office after the election cycle — remarks recorded in the hearing transcript.
Senator Johnson moved a do-pass recommendation and Senator Tucker seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.
The bill directs the General Assembly to add one circuit judgeship in the Nineteenth Judicial District West; the transcript records local judicial and county support and preparations for a contested election but did not include a committee roll-call tally.
