Courts in Arkansas
| More information on Arkansas's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Arkansas, there are two federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Arkansas' state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
Selection of the state court judges in Arkansas occurs through the nonpartisan election of judges. While the appellate and general jurisdiction courts have varying policies on judge qualifications, chief justice selection and term length, they share common regulations on re-election and the filling of interim vacancies. Likewise, the limited jurisdiction courts function largely the same across the board, differing primarily in judge qualifications.[1][2]
Across the state's appellate and trial courts, there are seven supreme court justices, 12 court of appeals judges, and 126 circuit court judges.[3]
Judges of the Arkansas Supreme Court and Arkansas Court of Appeals serve eight-year terms. Circuit court judges serve six-year terms. Both state and local district court judges serve four-year terms.[4]
Federal courts
The federal district courts in Arkansas are the:
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
- United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
Appeals from these districts go to the Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
Active Judges
Eastern District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2008 - |
University of Central Arkansas, 1992 |
Vanderbilt Law School, 1995 |
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| May 6, 2010 - |
Arkansas State University, 1985 |
Harvard Law School, 1989 |
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| May 8, 2012 - |
St. Louis University, 1993 |
University of Arkansas Law, 1996 |
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| March 10, 2014 - |
University of Arkansas, 1986 |
University of Arkansas Law, 1989 |
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| November 8, 2019 - |
Cornell University, 2001 |
Harvard Law School, 2005 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 3
- Republican appointed: 2
Western District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 19, 2011 - |
University of Arkansas, 1977 |
University of Arkansas Law, 1981 |
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| March 7, 2014 - |
University of Arkansas, 1986 |
University of Arkansas School of Law, 1989 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 2
- Republican appointed: 0
District map
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There are two federal bankruptcy courts in Arkansas. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy courts in Arkansas are:
- United States bankruptcy court, Eastern District of Arkansas
- United States bankruptcy court, Western District of Arkansas
State supreme court
- See also: Arkansas Supreme Court
| Arkansas Supreme Court |
|---|
|
| Court Information |
| Justices: 7 |
| Founded: 1836 |
| Location: Little Rock |
| Salary |
| Associates: $203,625[5] |
| Judicial Selection |
| Method: Nonpartisan elections |
| Term: 8 years |
| Active justices |
| Karen R. Baker, Nicholas Bronni, Cody Hiland, Courtney Rae Hudson, Barbara Webb, Shawn Womack, Rhonda Wood |
Founded in 1836, the Arkansas Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Karen R. Baker.
As of January 2025, five judges on the court were elected in nonpartisan elections. Two judges were appointed by a Republican governor.
The Arkansas Supreme Court meets in Little Rock, Arkansas. The court typically sits for a term beginning the first week of September and ending the first week of July.[6]
In Arkansas, state supreme court justices are elected in nonpartisan elections. There are 13 states that use this selection method. To read more about the nonpartisan election of judges, click here.
Article 7, Section 4 of the Arkansas Constitution describes the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. This section was later amended by Amendment 80, Section 2.
The court has appellate jurisdiction. It may transfer a case from lower courts in certain circumstances or bring special proceedings to the higher court as outlined in Article VI. The court also has a supervisory role over all other courts in the state, over the conduct of attorneys, and over the practice of law within the state.[7]
The supreme court also has authority to regulate the practice of law and the professional conduct of attorneys, the power to determine appellate jurisdiction of the court of appeals, and the power to determine reassignment of cases. The following types of cases are appealed directly to the supreme court from circuit, chancery, and probate courts: all cases involving interpretation of the state constitution; death penalty or life imprisonment appeals; certain petitions directed to state, county, or municipal officials, or to circuit, chancery, or probate courts; appeals regarding election procedures or elections; appeals regarding attorney discipline or the power of the court to regulate the practice of law; appeals regarding discipline or disability of judges; appeals following an appeal decided by the supreme court; any other cases required by law.[8]
The table below lists the current judges of the Arkansas Supreme Court and how they were selected.
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice | Karen R. Baker | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2025 | Elected |
| Arkansas Supreme Court Position 2 | Courtney Rae Hudson | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2025 | Elected |
| Arkansas Supreme Court Position 3 | Cody Hiland | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2025 | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) |
| Arkansas Supreme Court Position 4 | Barbara Webb | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2021 | Elected |
| Arkansas Supreme Court Position 5 | Shawn Womack | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2017 | Elected |
| Arkansas Supreme Court Position 6 | Nicholas Bronni | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2025 | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) |
| Arkansas Supreme Court Position 7 | Rhonda Wood | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2015 | Elected |
State court of appeals
- See also: Arkansas Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in the state. Opinions decided by this court may be appealed to the Supreme Court. There is, however, no right to appeal decisions made by this court. The Supreme Court must agree to hear the appeal.
The table below lists the current judges of the Arkansas Court of Appeals and how they were selected.
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
2013 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2017 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2003 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2009 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 1, 2025 - Present |
||
|
January 1, 2021 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2013 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2015 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2015 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2017 - Present |
Elected |
Trial courts
Arkansas Circuit Courts
- See also: Arkansas Circuit Courts
The circuit courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state. Circuit judges are elected to six-year terms.
The map below shows each of those circuits by county.
Arkansas District Courts
- See also: Arkansas District Courts
The district courts have limited jurisdiction in Arkansas. Arkansas previously had Arkansas City Courts, but they were consolidated into the Arkansas District Courts system, becoming divisions of the District courts, following the passage of SB 235 in 2007.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many
The map below shows each of the Arkansas judicial districts by county.
Non-judicial courts
The Arkansas County Courts are not judicial bodies, but instead act as an executive branch of government. They are presided over by a county judge who is the county executive.
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Arkansas," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Arkansas; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Judiciary, "2023 Arkansas Judicial Circuits," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ Arkansas Judiciary, "Court Structure, " accessed April 10, 2023
- ↑ The salary of the chief justice may be higher than an associate justice.
- ↑ Arkansas Judiciary, "Arkansas Supreme Court," accessed August 17, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Judiciary, "Arkansas Courts Historical Society," accessed June 6, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration,"Supreme Court," accessed June 7, 2024
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
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