David Fowlkes (Arkansas)
David Fowlkes is a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on January 5, 2026, and confirmed by the United States Senate on February 3, 2026, by a vote of 54-40.[1][2][3][4][5] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Prior to joining the court, Fowlkes was a U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.[3]
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas (2026-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Fowlkes to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. He was confirmed by a 54-40 vote of the U.S. Senate on February 3, 2026.[1][5] Fowlkes received commission on February 6, 2026.[3] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: David Fowlkes |
| Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 77 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: November 18, 2025
|
| ABA Rating: Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: [N/A Questionnaire] |
| Hearing: November 19, 2025
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| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: January 15, 2026
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| Confirmed: February 3, 2026
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| Vote: 54-40
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Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Fowlkes on February 3, 2026, on a vote of 54-40.[3] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Fowlkes confirmation vote (February 3, 2026) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
5 | 38 | 2 | ||||||
 Republican |
49 | 0 | 4 | ||||||
 Independent |
0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 54[6] | 40 | 6 | ||||||
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Fowlkes' nomination on November 19, 2025. He was reported to the full Senate on December 11, 2025, after a 15-7 committee vote.[7] Fowlkes was reported to the full Senate again on January 15, 2026, after a 14-8 committee vote.[8]
Nomination
On November 18, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) nominated David Fowlkes to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.[1][5] Fowlkes' nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2026.[9] The president renominated Fowlkes on January 5, 2026.[4]
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Fowlkes well qualified.[10] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Fowlkes was nominated to replace Judge Paul K. Holmes, who assumed senior status on November 10, 2021.[3]
Biography
Early life and education
Fowlkes was born in Harrison, Arkansas, in 1979. He earned a B.A. from Arkansas State University in 2000 and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2003.
Professional career
- 2026-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
- 2020-2026: U.S. attorney, United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
- 2007-2020: Assistant U.S. attorney, Western District of Arkansas
- 2016-2020: First assistant U.S. attorney
- 2015-2016: Criminal chief U.S. attorney
- 2014-2015: Deputy criminal chief U.S. attorney
- 2003-2007: Deputy prosecuting attorney, Benton County, Arkansas
- 2005-2007: Division chief
About the court
| Western District of Arkansas |
|---|
| Eighth Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 3 |
| Judges: 3 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Susan Hickey |
| Active judges: Timothy Brooks, David Fowlkes, Susan Hickey Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas is one of 94 United States district courts. It is further subdivided into six divisions. The district has courthouses in El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Harrison, Hot Springs, and Texarkana. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, based in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, at the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse and Building.
The Western District of Arkansas has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
There are six court divisions, each covering the following counties:
The El Dorado Division, covering Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Columbia, Ouachita and Union counties.
The Fayetteville Division, covering Benton, Madison and Washington counties.
The Fort Smith Division, covering Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Polk, Scott and Sebastian counties.
The Harrison Division, covering Baxter, Boone, Carroll, Marion, Newton and Searcy counties.
The Hot Springs Division, covering Clark, Garland, Hot Spring, Montgomery and Pike counties.
The Texarkana Division, covering Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada and Sevier counties.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," accessed November 18, 2025
- ↑ Truth Social, "Donald J. Trump," November 12, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Federal Judicial Center, "Fowlkes, David Clay Wilkerson," accessed February 9, 2026
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Congress.Gov, "PN726-5 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) — David Clay Fowlkes — The Judiciary," accessed January 5, 2026
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Congress.Gov, "PN655-1 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) — David Clay Fowlkes — The Judiciary," accessed November 18, 2025
- ↑ Note: The bolded number reflects the largest number.
- ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "RESULTS OF COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING," accessed December 11, 2025
- ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "RESULTS OF COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE BUSINESS MEETING," accessed January 15, 2026
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed December 15, 2025
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Paul K. Holmes |
United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas 2026-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |
Thomas Parker • Elizabeth Branch • Neil Gorsuch • Amul Thapar • David C. Nye • John K. Bush • Kevin Newsom • Timothy J. Kelly • Ralph Erickson • Scott Palk • Trevor McFadden • Joan Larsen • Amy Coney Barrett • Allison Eid • Stephanos Bibas • Donald Coggins Jr. • Dabney Friedrich • Greg Katsas • Steven Grasz • Don Willett • James Ho • William L. Campbell Jr. • David Stras • Tilman E. Self III • Karen Gren Scholer • Terry A. Doughty • Claria Horn Boom • John Broomes • Rebecca Grady Jennings • Kyle Duncan • Kurt Engelhardt • Michael B. Brennan • Joel Carson • Robert Wier • Fernando Rodriguez Jr. • Annemarie Carney Axon • | ||
| 2018 |
Andrew Oldham • Amy St. Eve • Michael Scudder • John Nalbandian • Mark Bennett • Andrew Oldham • Britt Grant • Colm Connolly • Maryellen Noreika • Jill Otake • Jeffrey Beaverstock • Emily Coody Marks • Holly Lou Teeter • Julius Richardson • Charles B. Goodwin • Barry Ashe • Stan Baker • A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. • Terry F. Moorer • Susan Baxter • William Jung • Alan Albright • Dominic Lanza • Eric Tostrud • Charles Williams • Nancy E. Brasel • James Sweeney • Kari A. Dooley • Marilyn J. Horan • Robert Summerhays • Brett Kavanaugh • David Porter • Liles Burke • Michael Juneau • Peter Phipps • Lance Walker • Richard Sullivan • Eli Richardson • Ryan Nelson • Chad F. Kenney, Sr. • Susan Brnovich • William M. Ray, II • Jeremy Kernodle • Thomas Kleeh • J.P. Hanlon • Mark Norris • Jonathan Kobes • Michael Brown • David Counts | ||
| 2019 |
Eric Miller • Chad Readler • Eric Murphy • Neomi Rao • Paul Matey • Allison Jones Rushing • Bridget S. Bade • Roy Altman • Patrick Wyrick • Holly Brady • David Morales • Andrew Brasher • J. Campbell Barker • Rodolfo Ruiz • Daniel Domenico • Michael Truncale • Michael Park • Joseph Bianco • Raúl Arias-Marxuach • Daniel Collins • Joshua Wolson • Wendy Vitter • Kenneth Kiyul Lee • Kenneth Bell • Stephen Clark • Howard Nielson • Rodney Smith • Jean-Paul Boulee • Sarah Daggett Morrison • Rossie Alston • Pamela A. Barker • Corey Maze • Greg Guidry • Matthew Kacsmaryk • Allen Winsor • Carl Nichols • James Cain, Jr. • Tom Barber • J. Nicholas Ranjan • Clifton L. Corker • Peter Phipps • Daniel Bress • Damon Leichty • Wendy W. Berger • Peter Welte • Michael Liburdi • William Shaw Stickman • Mark Pittman • Karin J. Immergut • Jason Pulliam • Brantley Starr • Brian Buescher • James Wesley Hendrix • Timothy Reif • Martha Pacold • Sean Jordan • Mary Rowland • John M. Younge • Jeff Brown • Ada Brown • Steven Grimberg • Stephanie A. Gallagher • Steven Seeger • Stephanie Haines • Mary McElroy • David J. Novak • Frank W. Volk • Charles Eskridge • Rachel Kovner • Justin Walker • T. Kent Wetherell • Danielle Hunsaker • Lee Rudofsky • Jennifer Philpott Wilson • William Nardini • Steven Menashi • Robert J. Luck • Eric Komitee • Douglas Cole • John Sinatra • Sarah Pitlyk • Barbara Lagoa • Richard Myers II • Sherri Lydon • Patrick Bumatay • R. Austin Huffaker • Miller Baker • Anuraag Singhal • Karen Marston • Jodi Dishman • Mary Kay Vyskocil • Matthew McFarland • John Gallagher • Bernard Jones • Kea Riggs • Robert J. Colville • Stephanie Dawkins Davis • Gary R. Brown • David Barlow • Lewis Liman | ||
| 2020 |
Lawrence VanDyke • Daniel Traynor • John Kness • Joshua Kindred • Philip Halpern • Silvia Carreno-Coll • Scott Rash • John Heil • Anna Manasco • John L. Badalamenti • Drew Tipton • Andrew Brasher • Cory Wilson • Scott Hardy • David Joseph • Matthew Schelp • John Cronan • Justin Walker • Brett H. Ludwig • Christy Wiegand • Thomas Cullen • Diane Gujarati • Stanley Blumenfeld • Mark Scarsi • John Holcomb • Stephen P. McGlynn • Todd Robinson • Hala Jarbou • David Dugan • Iain D. Johnston • Franklin U. Valderrama • John Hinderaker • Roderick Young • Michael Newman • Aileen Cannon • James Knepp • Kathryn Kimball Mizelle • Benjamin Beaton • Kristi Johnson • Toby Crouse • Philip Calabrese • Taylor McNeel • Thomas Kirsch • Stephen Vaden • Katherine Crytzer • Fernando Aenlle-Rocha • Charles Atchley • Joseph Dawson | ||
| 2025 |
Whitney Hermandorfer • Joshua Divine • Cristian M. Stevens • Zachary Bluestone • Emil Bove • Edward Artau • Kyle Dudek• Maria Lanahan• Jennifer Mascott• Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe• Chad Meredith• Harold Mooty• Jordan Pratt• Edmund LaCour• Bill Lewis• Eric Tung• Rebecca Taibleson• Joshua D. Dunlap• Bill Mercer• Susan Rodriguez• Robert Chamberlin• Matthew Orso• David Bragdon• Jimmy Maxwell• Lindsey Freeman• William J. Crain | ||
| 2026 |
Alexander Van Hook• Megan Benton• Aaron Peterson• David Fowlkes | ||
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas
State courts:
Arkansas Supreme Court • Arkansas Court of Appeals • Arkansas Circuit Courts • Arkansas District Courts
State resources:
Courts in Arkansas • Arkansas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Arkansas
