Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Paul K. Holmes
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
2021 - Present
3
Paul Kinloch Holmes, III is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. He was nominated to the court by President Barack Obama (D) and confirmed by the Senate on February 7, 2011. Holmes assumed senior status on November 10, 2021.[1]
Holmes served as the court's chief judge from 2012 to 2019.[2]
Prior to joining the court, Holmes was an attorney in Fort Smith, Arkansas.[3][4]
Early life and education
Holmes graduated from Westminster College with his B.A. in 1973 and from the University of Arkansas School of Law with his J.D. in 1978.[3][2]
Professional career
- 2011-present: Judge, Western District of Arkansas
- 2021-present: Senior judge, Western District of Arkansas
- 2011-2021: Judge, Western District of Arkansas
- 2009-2011: Of Counsel with Warner, Smith & Harris PLC
- 2001-2009: Partner with Warner, Smith & Harris PLC
- 1993-2001: United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
- Served two years on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee
- 1980-1993: Partner with Warner, Smith & Harris
- 1978-1980: Associate attorney with Warner, Smith & Harris[3]
Judicial career
Western District of Arkansas
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Paul K. Holmes |
| Court: Western District of Arkansas |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 285 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: 4/28/2010
|
| ABA Rating: Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: |
| Hearing: 9/29/2010
|
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
 Reported:
|
| Confirmed: 2/7/2011
|
| Returned: 12/22/2010
|
Holmes was recommended for nomination by U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor.[5] President Obama nominated Holmes on April 28, 2010 to fill the seat vacated by Robert Dawson.[6]
Holmes received a unanimous rating of "Well Qualified" from the American Bar Association. Holmes had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 29, 2010 and you can find his hearing transcript here.[7] He was moved out of committee on a voice vote on December 1, 2010.[8]
Holmes' nomination was returned to the President at the end of the 111th Congress. President Obama resubmitted the nomination on January 5, 2011. Hernandez was confirmed by the Senate by a voice vote on February 7, 2011.[9]
Holmes served as the chief judge from 2012 to 2019.
Noteworthy cases
|
|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
|
April 22, 2020 — Arkansas Issue 4, Redistricting Commission Amendment (2020): Arkansas Voters First, proponents of the redistricting commission initiative, filed a lawsuit on April 22 seeking relief from certain signature petition requirements, such as in-person signature, witness, and notary requirements. The group suspended signature gathering on March 19 due to the pandemic. The initiative was designed to take effect for 2021 redistricting if passed by voters in 2020. Arkansas Voters First Director Bonnie Miller said, “We have a right to petition our government to amend our constitution. We don’t have the luxury of waiting until next year. If we are denied access to the ballot this year, Arkansas could be stuck with unfair and unrepresentative districts for another ten years.” The Arkansas signature deadline for the November 2020 ballot was July 3.[10][11] On May 25, 2020, U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes issued a preliminary injunction waiving the requirement that petition circulators physically witness signatures, thereby allowing sponsors of the Arkansas Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative to collect remote petition signatures. The judge declined to allow electronic signatures and declined to push back the signature deadline.[12]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ USCourts.gov, "Future Judicial Vacancies," accessed December 3, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Biography from Federal Judicial Center
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 White House Press Release "President Obama Names Three to the United States District Court," April 28, 2010
- ↑ The City Wire "Obama nominates Holmes for federal judgeship," April 29, 2010
- ↑ The City Wire "P.K. Holmes recommended for Western District Federal Judge," December 16, 2009
- ↑ White House Press Release "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate," April 28, 2010
- ↑ Judicial Nomination Materials (dead link)
- ↑ Results of Executive Business Meeting, December 1, 2010
- ↑ Nominations of the 112th Congress
- ↑ Arkansas Times, "Lawsuit filed by proponents of redistricting amendment to ease petition requirements for November ballot," April 22, 2020
- ↑ ABC News, "As coronavirus upends elections, ballot access becomes next point of concern," April 22, 2020
- ↑ My Journal Courier, "Judge eases Arkansas petition rules for redistricting group," accessed May 26, 2020
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Robert Dawson |
Western District of Arkansas 2011–2021 Seat #2 |
Succeeded by: TBD
|
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominated | |||
