Arkansas District
Judges Council
Useful Links
District Judges Bench Book Updated November 2009
Judicial Branch Education Calendar
Judicial Directory
Congressional Districts
President's Message
Greetings from the Arkansas District Judges Council!
The Council is composed of the state’s 113 District Judges. Our purpose is to promote the efficient administrative of justice, to protect the integrity, dignity and independence of the judiciary and to provide continuing legal education for its members.
Since the passage of Amendment 80 to the Arkansas Constitution in 2000, the Council has worked to implement the voters’ mandates in the amendment for a more streamlined, efficient judiciary using the goals stated by the Arkansas Supreme Court in its orders following the passage of the Amendment. In 2007 the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 663 which created a District Court Pilot Project in twelve of the state’s seventy-five counties. The pilot project uses full-time state employed judges with expanded jurisdiction to aid Circuit Courts in providing efficient, cost-effective justice to its citizens.
Over the past few years the Council has worked diligently to improve the relationship of the state’s district judges with the Arkansas Judicial Council, which includes the Arkansas Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and the state’s Circuit Judges, with the Arkansas Bar Association, and with the Arkansas District Court and City Court Clerks Association. Each year our president appoints representatives to act as liaisons with those organizations to promote judicial efficiency, integrity, and independence.
We invite you to browse our new website and learn more about our Council.
Sincerely,
Hon. Mlas "Butch" Hale III
President, District Judges Council