An act CONCERNING THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT- 10 WEST, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas                  A Bill
2 95th General Assembly

3 Regular Session, 2025                                          SENATE BILL 234

4

5 By: Senator Dees

6 By: Representative Dalby

7

8                              For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT CONCERNING THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT-

10  WEST; TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL CIRCUIT JUDGESHIP; TO

11  DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

12

13

14                                   Subtitle

15                       CONCERNING THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL

16                       DISTRICT-WEST; TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL

17                       CIRCUIT JUDGESHIP; AND TO DECLARE AN

18                       EMERGENCY.

19

20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

21

22  SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative findings and intent.

23  (a) The General Assembly finds that:

24  (1) The Judicial Resources Assessment Committee has reviewed the

25 caseloads of the various judicial districts; and

26  (2) One (1) additional circuit judgeship is needed in the

27 Nineteenth Judicial District-West to ensure the smooth, efficient, and timely

28 administration of justice.

29  (b) The General Assembly intends this act to:

30  (1) Authorize the establishment of one (1) additional circuit

31 judgeship in the Nineteenth Judicial District-West;

32  (2) Articulate the applicable election process of the additional

33 circuit judge; and

34  (3) Identify various resources that will be available for the

35 additional circuit judge.

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1   SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 16-13-3002, concerning judges in the

2 Nineteenth Judicial District, is amended to add an additional subsection to

3 read as follows:

4   (j)(1) Effective April 1, 2025, there is created in the Nineteenth

5 Judicial District-West an additional circuit judgeship that shall have

6 jurisdiction in law, equity, probate, and juvenile matters.

7              (2)(A) The additional circuit judge shall be elected by the

8 qualified voters of the district, shall satisfy the same qualifications for

9 holding office, and shall receive the same salary, expenses, and other

10 allowances as provided by law for judges of the circuit courts.

11                   (B) The circuit judge shall serve for elected terms of six

12 (6) years.

13             (3) The county that composes the Nineteenth Judicial District-

14 West shall provide courtroom and office facilities and supplies for the newly

15 created circuit judgeship created by subdivision (j)(1) of this section,

16 which shall be paid out of the county treasury in the same manner as other

17 demands against the county and out of funds appropriated by the quorum court

18 of the county for these purposes.

19             (4) There shall be provided for the circuit judgeship created by

20 subdivision (j)(1) of this section a court reporter and a trial court

21 administrator whose salaries shall be fixed and paid in the manner provided

22 by law for court reporters and trial court administrators of the circuit

23 courts of this state.

24

25  SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. Temporary language.

26  For the circuit judgeship created in the Nineteenth Judicial District-

27 West, the vacancy shall be filled by election at the 2026 nonpartisan

28 judicial general election, with the elected circuit judge to take office on

29 January 1, 2027.

30

31  SECTION 4. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the

32 General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the Judicial Resources

33 Assessment Committee has reviewed the caseloads of the various judicial

34 districts; that the caseload of the Nineteenth Judicial District-West

35 necessitates an additional circuit judge; and that this act is necessary to

36 ensure the smooth, efficient, and timely administration of justice in the

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   SB234

 1 affected county. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this act,
 2 being necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety,
 3 shall become effective on April 1, 2025.
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