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Committee declines to advance bill to delay creation of state district judge for Arkansas–Monroe pairing
Summary
After testimony from local judges and DCRAB staff, the Senate Judiciary Committee did not secure a second to a motion that would have given House Bill 19-37 a do-pass recommendation to delay creation of a combined Arkansas–Monroe state district court.
Representative Vivian Flowers asked the Judiciary Committee to give House Bill 19-37 a do-pass recommendation to delay the transition that would combine district courts in some counties and push implementation to Jan. 1, 2025. Flowers said the delay would avoid creating a district that crosses circuit-court lines and would save state and local resources while the matter is studied further.
Judge Park Eldridge, appearing at the sponsor’s request, told the panel the measure is a "do no harm" bill that maintains part-time judges and gives more time to address issues raised by a proposed merger that would cross judicial-circuit lines. Eldridge said the bill would not cause judges to lose positions or immediately cost the state money.
Judge David Carruth — who identified himself as a Monroe County judge — urged the committee not to advance the Monroe–Arkansas portion of the bill. Carruth said the Monroe–Arkansas language "was not" vetted by the District Court Resource Assessment Board (DCRAB) and that local leaders in affected towns had not been consulted; he warned that delay would deprive citizens of access to state district‑court services intended to relieve circuit-court workloads.
Kristen Clark, staff attorney to the DCRAB board, told the committee the map placing Arkansas and Monroe together dates to 2015 and that DCRAB work over many years informed prior decisions. She confirmed DCRAB considered some combinations but that the specific Monroe–Arkansas language in HB 19-37 had not been fully vetted as presented to the legislature.
Representative Flowers moved a do-pass recommendation; the motion received no second and therefore did not carry. The sponsor said she would bring the bill back for further consideration after gathering additional docket and caseload data and consulting affected local officials.
What happens next: Flowers said she intends to return with more information; the committee did not adopt a formal referral or amendment at this meeting.
Speakers quoted or cited in this report are drawn from the committee transcript and testimony: Judge David Carruth (opposed), Judge Park Eldridge (support), Kristen Clark (DCRAB staff attorney), and Representative Vivian Flowers (bill sponsor).
