Keith Blackman
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This Arkansas-related article is a sprout. |
Keith Blackman was a judge for the Craighead County District Court in Arkansas.[1] Blackman began serving on the court January 1, 2005.[2] He was defeated by David Kueter Boling in the general election on March 1, 2016.
Elections
2016
Arkansas held general elections for local judicial offices in 2016. The general election was held on March 1, 2016.
David Boling defeated incumbent Keith Blackman in the general election for the Division 1 seat on the 19th State Judicial District.
| Arkansas 19th State Judicial District, Division 1 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 David Boling |
53.15% | 9,297 |
| Keith Blackman Incumbent | 46.85% | 8,194 |
| Total Votes (100 percent) | 17,491 | |
| 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.[3]
Noteworthy events
Blackman admonished for charging fee to change pleas
Blackman received a letter of admonishment from the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission on March 21, 2014. He was found guilty of misconduct for charging defendants who appeared before him a fee of $35 if they changed their plea from not guilty to guilty.[2]
When he began charging the fee, Blackman called it a "witness fee." However, over time he called the charge a "contempt fee." According to Blackman, he had hoped the fee would make defendants consider their pleas more carefully to help avoid unnecessary work and expenses for the court.[2]
In the letter, the commission noted Blackman's attitude failed to recognize that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. He was found guilty of violating canons 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 2.5, and 2.6 of the state's code of judicial conduct. The commission noted Blackman was "cooperative and honest" in dealing with the commission regarding the misconduct complaint.[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Craighead County, Arkansas, "Craighead County District Court," accessed May 20, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission, "Press Release: Letter of Admonishment for the Honorable Keith Blackman," March 21, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Judiciary, "District Courts," accessed March 31, 2017
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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
