Joanna Taylor
Joanna Taylor is a judge for the Fourth Circuit in Arkansas. She was first elected to the bench in 2010.[1][2] She was re-elected in the general election on March 1, 2016.
Education
Taylor received her undergraduate degree from Western Connecticut State University in 1989. She earned her J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law in 1993. She also attended Centenary College of Louisiana.[3][4][5][6]
Career
- 2011-Present: Judge, Fourth Circuit
- 2005-2010: Judge, Madison County District Court
- 1994-Present: Attorney, Jackson & Taylor Law Firm & Joanna Taylor, P.A.
- 1994: Admitted to the bar[4][3][5]
Awards and associations
- Arkansas District Judges Council
- Arkansas District Judges Education Committee
- Former President, Madison-Carroll County Bar Association
- Arkansas District Judges Legislative Committee
- Washington County Bar Association
- Volunteer attorney with Legal Aid of Arkansas
- Board member, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA
- Judge of student competitions at University of Arkansas Law School
- Kiwanis Club
- Elder, Deacon & Sunday School Teacher, First Presbyterian Church
- Huntsville Community Choir
- Friendship Club[3][6]
Elections
2016
Arkansas held general elections for local judicial offices in 2016. The general election was held on March 1, 2016.
Incumbent Joanna Taylor ran unopposed in the general election for the Division 7 seat on the 4th Judicial Circuit.
| Arkansas 4th Judicial Circuit, Division 7 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 Joanna Taylor Incumbent | ||
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State, "Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan General Election Official County Results," March 16, 2016 | ||
2010
Joanna Taylor ran for circuit judge of the Arkansas 4th Judicial District, Division 07. She competed against candidates Gary Carson, Steve Zega, and Charles M. Duell in the primary election. Joanna Taylor defeated Steve Zega in the general election.[2]
Approach to the law
Taylor was quoted in Ozark Unbound:
| “ | I am not sure I ever interpret the law; statutes are written to be taken at face value and in their plain meaning and should not require interpretation. Occasionally, a word will not be defined by statute, and the court must supply a definition, and, in that instance, I generally use the most common and obvious definition. Analysis of the law is necessary when several legal arguments apply and a distinction must be made between them. I believe justice is best served by a common sense approach. If the legal theory requires straining and bending to make sense, it is not likely to be sound and defensible.[6] - Joanna Taylor[7] | ” |
See also
- Arkansas judicial elections, 2010
- Arkansas 4th Judicial Circuit
- Madison County, Arkansas
- Washington County, Arkansas
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas Judiciary, Circuit Judge Information, Joanna Taylor
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Arkansas Secretary of State, Circuit Judge District 04, Unofficial Primary Results 5/18/10
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 HogAlumni.com profile
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Martindale profile
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 LinkedIn profile
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ozarks Unbound, "Know your candidates: Joanna Taylor vs. Steve Zega for circuit court, division 7," October 29, 2010
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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 • Arkansas City Courts
State resources:
Courts in Arkansas • Arkansas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Arkansas
