Monticello Live

Born, raised, and educated in the 10th Judicial District, I’m pleased to announce I will be seeking the position of Circuit Judge for Div. 2. Currently, Div. 2 is held by the Honorable Judge Kenneth Johnson, whom will be retiring at the conclusion of his term.

This position is primarily assigned family law matters in the 10th Judicial District (consisting of 5 Counties: Ashley, Bradley, Desha, Drew, and Chicot), for which I have over 13 years of experience.

My passion for children in the law has been the motivating factor for seeking this position. I have first-hand knowledge of the emotional strain involved in domestic relations proceedings, having experienced a divorce and having learned how to co-parent my 2 beautiful boys.

Due to the same, if elected your next Circuit Judge, Div. 2, I will always be available to all constituents (at all hours) to ensure my duties as Circuit Judge are truly fulfilled, and I promise to expedite these very important proceedings as timely as possible for the families in the 10th Judicial District.

Finally, my practice as an attorney in this district has prepared me for this position. Specifically, I have provided “pro-bono” services for Arkansas Legal Aid. For 3 years, I have been contracted with the ‘Arkansas Domestic Violence Initiative,’ whereby I provide representation and aid to victims of domestic violence in each of our 5 Counties, on a monthly basis. Further, I was certified as an attorney ad litem (attorney for children in domestic relations matters), and in order to better understand the entire dynamics of family law, I received certification in ‘TransParenting’ (a program focused on educating divorcing and divorced parents to reduce conflict and focus on the true needs of their children).”

Priscilla Copelin-Abernathy advises that there are various judgeship races in this district for the election in March of 2020, and she stresses the importance of understanding each of the positions available and the difference in each position.

She attended Dumas High School, where she was born, raised, and educated by her two (2) parents, the late Kenneth “Cope” Copelin and Carolyn Copelin, whom owned and operated Dumas Body Shop for over forty (40) years until Mr. Copelin’s death in 2015. She is married to Leslie “Brett” Abernathy, II and has two (2) boys, Copelin Neeley and Emmitt Neeley.

Priscilla received her bachelor degrees at the University of Arkansas at Monticello where she was a UAM Cheerleader, a member of the UAM Debate Team, was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, and where she was a member of various organizations and participated in Moot Court and like competitions. Copelin-Abernathy stated, “the education I received from UAM enabled me to, not only to be accepted to law school, but prepared me to excel in the curriculum.” In 2002, Copelin-Abernathy was accepted and began law school in Fayetteville, at the University of Arkansas School of Law. “My parents really sacrificed and put there life on hold to afford me the opportunity to become an attorney; and for this I am truly thankful and blessed,” stated Copelin-Abernathy, whom graduated and passed the bar in 2005. After “getting her feet wet” as a prosecutor in Northwest Arkansas, in 2006, she moved back to the area, where she has since been practicing.

While living in Dumas, Arkansas, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dumas; she was a member of the Women’s Service League, the Dumas Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Dumas; and she further participated and volunteered for countless other organizations throughout the 10th Judicial District, including holding the position as Vice President and President of the SEALI (Southeast Arkansas Legal Institute).

“The position I seek (Division 2) is an area of the law for which I have vast experience, and my energy, passion and advocacy for these matters involving family law is why I am seeking Circuit Judge and why I’m asking for your vote,” says Copelin-Abernathy.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 25th, 2019 at 12:43 am and is filed under 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.