HB1978
To Add An Additional Judgeship To The Seventeenth District Of The State District Court System.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1978 amends the Arkansas Code to increase the number of state district court judges in the Seventeenth District, which serves Clay and Greene counties, from one to two. The bill mandates that these judges be elected districtwide. It further establishes a specific funding structure for the new position, requiring that salary and benefits be shared between the City of Paragould, Greene County, and Clay County. The bill specifies the exact proportions of these costs to be paid by each participating local government entity. Additionally, the legislation provides that the new judgeship will become effective on January 1, 2027, and will be placed on the ballot for the 2026 nonpartisan judicial election.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries include the residents of Clay and Greene counties, who may experience increased access to the judicial system and potentially shorter wait times for case resolutions due to the increased judicial capacity. The legal system in the Seventeenth District also benefits from reduced caseload pressure on the existing judge, potentially allowing for more thorough and efficient proceedings.
Who Might Suffer?
The City of Paragould, Greene County, and Clay County are most directly impacted, as they are required to share the financial burden of funding the salary and benefits for the newly created judicial position. Taxpayers in these specific jurisdictions may see a reallocation of local government funds to support this legislative requirement.
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