Monticello Live

There will be major changes in Drew and Bradley County District Courts, beginning in 2017, including the elimination of a local judge.

Court will still be held in both Monticello and Warren although, beginning in January 2017, both would be served by the same judge, instead of different judges, elected for each court.

Warren’s Judge Bruce Anderson has announced his intention to run for this position in the 2016 election to be held March 1.

Monticello’s Judge Sara Hartness is expected to announce her candidacy for the position, this week.

Act 1081, enacted by the Arkansas General Assembly during the 2015 session, eliminates several district judge posts across the state, including District 28,  which covers Bradley and Drew counties.  Court will still held in Monticello and Warren, although both will be served by the same judge, elected district-wide, under the provisions of Act 1081.

“Drew and Bradley Counties’ district courts merge into one,” said state Rep. Sheilla Lampkin. “The elections will be on next year’s ballot. This was begun as Senate Bill 350, but later merged into an omnibus justice bill.”

In District 27, Chicot and Desha counties, there will be five departments under Act 1081, in Dermott, Dumas, Eudora, Lake Village and McGehee, with one judge, elected district-wide, presiding over all.

According to the bill, “Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, the following cities and counties that are currently served by local district courts pursuant to (Section) 16-17-901 et seq. shall be reorganized as state district court judges.

“The new state district court judgeships created by this section shall become effective Jan. 1, 2017,” the act continues, “and shall be placed on the ballot to be elected in the 2016 nonpartisan judicial election from the newly constructed judicial district.

District 26 will combine both Ashley County courts, Hamburg and Crossett, under the same judge, as well.

Information for this article provided by the Ashley News Observer.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 3rd, 2015 at 3:43 pm and is filed under Court, Elections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.