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Tonya Alexander
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2022
Tonya Alexander is a judge for the Arkansas 2nd Judicial Circuit Court in Arkansas. She was elected in the general election on March 1, 2016.[1]
Elections
2016
Arkansas held general elections for local judicial offices in 2016. The general election was held on March 1, 2016.
Tonya Alexander defeated Curtis Walker, Jr. in the general election for the Division 6 (Subdistrict 2.1) seat on the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
| Arkansas 2nd Judicial Circuit, Division 6 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Tonya Alexander |
56.66% | 2,283 |
| Curtis Walker, Jr. | 43.34% | 1,746 |
| Total Votes (100 percent) | 4,029 | |
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State, "Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan General Election Official County Results," March 16, 2016 | ||
Issues
If elected, Alexander would have been the first African American female judge to serve on Division Six of the Arkansas 2nd Judicial Circuit Court. Her campaign website emphasized this point, using the hashtags #Let'sMakeHistory and #1stAfricanAmericanFemaleJudgeInDivision6.[2]
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
There are 122 judges on the Arkansas Circuit Courts, each elected to six-year terms. They compete in nonpartisan primaries (occurring at the same time as the primary elections for other state officials) in which the candidate who receives more than 50 percent of the vote wins the seat. If no candidate garners a majority of the vote, the top two candidates compete in a runoff during the general election.[3]
The chief judge of each circuit court is chosen by supreme court appointment. He or she serves in that capacity for an indefinite period of time.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[3]
- at least 28 years old;
- of "good moral character;"
- learned in the law;
- a U.S. citizen;
- a state resident for at least 2 years; and
- a legal practitioner for at least 6 years.
Education
Alexander earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas.[1]
Career
Alexander worked in private practice since 2000. She also served on the Arkansas Public Defender Commission as well as serving as a Municipal Court 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
