Joe O'Bryan
Joe O'Bryan is judge of the Northern Department of the Lonoke County Local District Court in Arkansas. He was first elected to the court in 1990.[1]
O'Bryan placed first in the general election on March 1, 2016, but did not win a majority of the votes cast. He advanced to the runoff election on November 8, 2016.
Elections
2016
Arkansas held general elections for local judicial offices in 2016. The general election was held on March 1, 2016.
Runoff election
Clint McGue defeated incumbent Joe O'Bryan in the runoff election for the Lonoke County Local District Court's Northern Department seat.
| Lonoke County Local District Court, Northern Department Runoff Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Clint McGue |
54.95% | 10,375 |
| Joe O'Bryan Incumbent | 45.05% | 8,506 |
| Total Votes | 18,881 | |
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State, "General Election Results," accessed December 30, 2016 | ||
General election
Clint McGue and incumbent Joe O'Bryan defeated John Flynn in the general election for the Northern Department seat on the Lonoke County Local District Court.
| Lonoke County Local District Court, Northern Department General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Clint McGue |
38.79% | 4,068 |
| Joe O'Bryan Incumbent |
34.26% | 3,593 |
| John Flynn | 26.95% | 2,827 |
| Total Votes (100 percent) | 10,488 | |
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State, "Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan General Election Official County Results," March 16, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan elections
District courts in Arkansas are divided between local district courts and state district courts. Local district courts feature part-time judges, while state district courts feature full-time judges. Judges of the Arkansas District Courts are each elected to four-year terms. The elections for this court are nonpartisan contested elections. To serve on this court, a judge must be at least 26 years old, a registered voter of their district, and have at least three years of experience practicing law.[2]
Noteworthy events
Judge arrested for domestic battery (2015)
O'Bryan was arrested on August 21, 2015, on a charge of third-degree domestic battery. He was released on a $620 bond. Authorities say O'Bryan and his girlfriend got in an argument when he wanted to leave home drunk. When she tried to get him to stay home, he allegedly grabbed her throat and threw her onto a table. The director of the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission filed a complaint against the judge.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
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
