Two judges sanctioned in Arkansas

April 30, 2012

Little Rock, Arkansas: The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission issued sanctions to two state judges late last week.

Judge Brad Karren

Judge Brad Karren of the Benton County District Court, Rogers Division, was reprimanded for his handling of a juvenile detention case. One of Judge Karren's employees had a child who was being held in a juvenile detention center. Judge Karren ordered the detention center to allow his employee access to her child, an order that was at variance with standard visitation procedures and that "gave the appearance of affording special privileges" to one of the judge's employees. Judge Karren also admitted to communicating with his employee ex parte, meaning outside the prosecutor's presence and without providing notice of the communication to the prosecutor.

For his action in a separate case, Judge Karren was sanctioned for setting a bond lower than the prosecutor requested for a rape suspect whom Judge Karren had previously represented in private practice.

Because Judge Karren admitted to these violations and agreed not to repeat them in the future, the commission elected to sanction him by reprimand rather than by a public hearing.

Judge Edwin Keaton

Judge Edwin Keaton, a judge on the Arkansas 13th Judicial Circuit Court, was sanctioned for delay in acting on three separate cases. Because he had been disciplined for such action in the past, the commission issued him a Letter of Censure. Judge Keaton agreed to do a better job managing his caseload in the future, including taking a judicial time management class.

See also

• Arkansas judicial news