Chalk Mitchell
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Chalk Mitchell is a judge of the First Circuit Court in Phillips County, Arkansas. He was first appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) to replace L.T. Simes, II on October 21, 2015.[1]
Mitchell ran to remain on the Arkansas 1st Judicial Circuit Court in 2016. He was prohibited by Arkansas law from running for the seat to which he was appointed, so he instead chose to run for the vacancy on the same court left by the retirement of Kathleen Bell. He won the general election on March 1, 2016.[2]
Education
Mitchell earned a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College and an MPA from Harvard University. He later received his J.D. from Georgetown University.[1]
Career
Mitchell served for 16 years as an assistant U.S. attorney. He has also been an attorney in private practice, city attorney, state prosecutor and served as Phillips County District Judge from 2002-2004.[1]
Elections
2016
Incumbent Chalk Mitchell defeated Robert Kinchen in the general election for the Division 4 (Subdistrict 1.1) seat on the 1st Judicial Circuit.
| Arkansas 1st Judicial Circuit, Division 4 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Chalk Mitchell Incumbent |
62.52% | 3,527 |
| Robert Kinchen | 37.48% | 2,114 |
| Total Votes (100 percent) | 5,641 | |
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State, "Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan General Election Official County Results," March 16, 2016 | ||
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.
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Governor of Arkansas, "Governor Asa Hutchinson Appoints Chalk Mitchell as First Judicial Circuit Judge," October 21, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Times, "Hutchinson names Chalk Mitchell to judgeship," October 21, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Arkansas," archived October 2, 2014
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
