Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 220 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 234 3
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By: Senator Dees 5
By: Representative Dalby 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT CONCERNING THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT-9
WEST; TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL CIRCUIT JUDGESHIP; TO 10
DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 11
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Subtitle 14
CONCERNING THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL 15
DISTRICT-WEST; TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL 16
CIRCUIT JUDGESHIP; AND TO DECLARE AN 17
EMERGENCY. 18
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 20
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SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative findings and intent. 22
(a) The General Assembly finds that: 23
(1) The Judicial Resources Assessment Committee has reviewed the 24
caseloads of the various judicial districts; and 25
(2) One (1) additional circuit judgeship is needed in the 26
Nineteenth Judicial District -West to ensure the smooth, efficient, and timely 27
administration of justice. 28
(b) The General Assembly intends this act to: 29
(1) Authorize the establishment of one (1) additional circuit 30
judgeship in the Nineteenth Judicial District -West; 31
(2) Articulate the applicable election process of the additional 32
circuit judge; and 33
(3) Identify various resources that will be available for the 34
additional circuit judge. 35
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SECTION 2. Arkansas Code ยง 16 -13-3002, concerning judges in the 1
Nineteenth Judicial District, is amended to add an additional subsection to 2
read as follows: 3
(j)(1) Effective April 1, 2025, there is created in the Nineteenth 4
Judicial District-West an additional circuit judgeship that shall have 5
jurisdiction in law, equity, probate, and juvenile matters. 6
(2)(A) The additional circuit judge shall be elected by the 7
qualified voters of the district, shall satisfy the same qualifications for 8
holding office, and shall receive the same salary, expenses, and other 9
allowances as provided by law for judges of the circuit courts. 10
(B) The circuit judge shall serve for elected terms of six 11
(6) years. 12
(3) The county that composes the Nineteenth Judicial District -13
West shall provide courtroom and office facilities and supplies for the newly 14
created circuit judgeship created by subdivision (j)(1) of this section, 15
which shall be paid out of the county treasury in the same manner as other 16
demands against the county and out of funds appropriated by the quorum court 17
of the county for these purposes. 18
(4) There shall be provided for the circuit judgeship created by 19
subdivision (j)(1) of this section a court reporter and a trial court 20
administrator whose salaries shall be fixed and paid in the manner provided 21
by law for court reporters and trial court administrators of the circuit 22
courts of this state. 23
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SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. Temporary language. 25
For the circuit judgeship created in the Nineteenth Judicial District -26
West, the vacancy shall be filled by election at the 2026 nonpartisan 27
judicial general election, with the elected circuit judge to take office on 28
January 1, 2027. 29
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SECTION 4. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 31
General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the Judicial Resources 32
Assessment Committee has reviewed the caseloads of the various judicial 33
districts; that the caseload of the Nineteenth Judicial District -West 34
necessitates an additional circuit judge; and that this act is necessary to 35
ensure the smooth, efficient, and timely administration of justice in the 36 SB234
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affected county. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this act, 1
being necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, 2
shall become effective on April 1, 2025. 3
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APPROVED: 2/27/25 6
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