Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 16 - PRACTICE, PROCEDURE, AND COURTS (§§ 16-1-101 — 16-131-206) › Subtitle 2 - COURTS AND COURT OFFICERS (§§ 16-10-101 — 16-24-101) › Chapter 17 - DISTRICT COURTS (§§ 16-17-101 — 16-17-1203) › Subchapter 11 - PILOT STATE DISTRICT COURTS (§§ 16-17-1101 — 16-17-1116) › Section 16-17-1110 - Organization and designation

The following state district courts shall be organized and designated in numbered judicial districts as follows:
(1)
(A)
The First District is composed of Benton County.
(B)
The First District has thirteen (13) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Rogers;
(ii)
One (1) located in Bentonville;
(iii)
One (1) located in Siloam Springs;
(iv)
One (1) located in Gentry;
(v)
One (1) located in Decatur;
(vi)
One (1) located in Cave Springs;
(vii)
One (1) located in Centerton;
(viii)
One (1) located in Gravette;
(ix)
One (1) located in Little Flock;
(x)
One (1) located in Lowell;
(xi)
One (1) located in Pea Ridge;
(xii)
One (1) located in Sulphur Springs; and
(xiii)
One (1) located in Bella Vista.
(C)
(i)
The district is served by four (4) state district court judges.
(ii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 1.
(iii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 2.
(iv)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 3.
(v)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 4.
(D)
The assignment of judges to departments under subdivision (1)(B) of this section is determined by the mutual agreement of the state district court judges.
(E)
For the purpose of venue, the district court boundaries in Benton County are as follows:
(i)
Division 1 - Rogers District Court:
(a)
All of District 94, District 95, and District 96 of the House of Representatives as drawn by The Board of Apportionment in 2002;
(b)
That part of District 98 of the House of Representatives as drawn by The Board of Apportionment in 2002 that is in Benton County Quorum Court District 1 as established by the Benton County Election Commission;
(c)
That part of Benton County Quorum Court District 6 as established by the Benton County Election Commission that is in District 96 and District 98 of the House of Representatives as drawn by The Board of Apportionment in 2002; and
(d)
All of precinct 43, precinct 44, and precinct 49 as they existed on January 1, 2011;
(ii)
Division 2 - Bentonville District Court:
(a)
All of District 7, District 8, District 9, and District 10 except for the now-existing precinct 22, of the Benton County Quorum Court as established by the Benton County Election Commission;
(b)
All of District 99 of the House of Representatives as drawn by The Board of Apportionment in 2002 except for the now-existing precinct 43, precinct 44, and precinct 49; and
(c)
All of precinct 45 as it existed on January 1, 2011;
(iii)
Division 3 - Siloam Springs District Court:
(a)
All of District 97 of the House of Representatives as drawn by The Board of Apportionment in 2002; and
(b)
All of precinct 7, precinct 14, precinct 16, and precinct 17 as they existed on January 1, 2011; and
(iv)
Division 4 - Benton County West District Court:
(a)
All of Benton County Quorum Court District 11 as established by the Benton County Election Commission; and
(b)
All of precinct 6, precinct 15, precinct 18, precinct 19, and precinct 22 as they existed on January 1, 2011.
(F)
The First District judges are elected districtwide.
(G)
The First District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(2)
(A)
The Second District shall be composed of Washington County and the city limits of Springdale that extend into Benton County.
(B)
The Second District shall have ten (10) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Springdale;
(ii)
One (1) located in Elm Springs;
(iii)
One (1) located in Johnson;
(iv)
One (1) located in Fayetteville;
(v)
One (1) located in Elkins;
(vi)
One (1) located in West Fork;
(vii)
One (1) located in Greenland;
(viii)
One (1) located in Prairie Grove;
(ix)
One (1) located in Lincoln; and
(x)
One (1) located in Farmington.
(C)
The Second District shall be served by four (4) state district court judges:
(i)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 1;
(ii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 2;
(iii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 3; and
(iv)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 4.
(D)
The presiding judge of the departments under subdivision (2)(B) of this section shall be determined by the mutual agreement of the state district court judges of the Second District.
(E)
The Second District judges shall be elected districtwide.
(F)
The Second District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(3)
(A)
The Third District shall be composed of Carroll County and Madison County.
(B)
The Third District shall have four (4) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Berryville;
(ii)
One (1) located in Eureka Springs;
(iii)
One (1) located in Huntsville; and
(iv)
One (1) located in Green Forest.
(C)
The Third District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Third District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Third District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(4)
(A)
The Fourth District shall be composed of Boone County, the City of Alpena in Carroll County, Newton County, and Searcy County.
(B)
The Fourth District has four (4) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Alpena;
(ii)
One (1) located in Harrison;
(iii)
One (1) located in Marshall; and
(iv)
One (1) located in Jasper.
(C)
The Fourth District is served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Fourth District judge is elected districtwide.
(E)
The Fourth District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(5)
(A)
The Fifth District shall be composed of Crawford County.
(B)
The Fifth District shall have five (5) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Van Buren;
(ii)
One (1) located in Mountainburg;
(iii)
One (1) located in Alma;
(iv)
One (1) located in Mulberry; and
(v)
One (1) located in Dyer.
(C)
The Fifth District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Fifth District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Fifth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(6)
(A)
The Sixth District is composed of the Greenwood District of Sebastian County and the Fort Smith District of Sebastian County.
(B)
The Greenwood District of Sebastian County has one (1) district court with one (1) judge and three (3) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Greenwood;
(ii)
One (1) located in Barling; and
(iii)
One (1) located in Central City.
(C)
(i)
The Fort Smith District of Sebastian County has one (1) district court with three (3) departments and one (1) judge for each department.
(ii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated Division 1.
(iii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated Division 2.
(iv)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated Division 3.
(D)
The assignment of judges to departments under subdivision (6)(C) of this section is determined by the mutual agreement of the state district court judges of the Sixth District.
(E)
The judge of any district court in Sebastian County shall be elected by the electors of the judicial district in which the court is located.
(F)
The jurisdiction of the district courts in Sebastian County shall be limited to the judicial district in which the court is located;
(7)
(A)
The Eighth District is composed of Pope County.
(B)
The Eighth District has five (5) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Russellville;
(ii)
One (1) located in Atkins;
(iii)
One (1) located in Dover;
(iv)
One (1) located in London; and
(v)
One (1) located in Pottsville.
(C)
The Eighth District is served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Eighth District judge is elected districtwide.
(E)
The Eighth District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(8)
(A)
The Ninth District shall be composed of Faulkner County and Van Buren County.
(B)
The Ninth District shall have seven (7) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Conway;
(ii)
One (1) located in Greenbrier;
(iii)
One (1) located in Guy;
(iv)
One (1) located in Mayflower;
(v)
One (1) located in Vilonia;
(vi)
One (1) located in Clinton; and
(vii)
One (1) located in Damascus.
(C)
The Ninth District shall be served by two (2) state district court judges:
(i)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 1; and
(ii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 2.
(D)
The assignment of judges to departments under subdivision (8)(B) of this section shall be determined by the mutual agreement of the state district court judges of the Ninth District.
(E)
The Ninth District judges shall be elected districtwide.
(F)
The Ninth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(9)
(A)
The Tenth District is composed of Baxter County and Marion County.
(B)
The Tenth District has ten (10) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Briarcliff;
(ii)
One (1) located in Cotter;
(iii)
One (1) located in Gassville;
(iv)
One (1) located in Lakeview;
(v)
One (1) located in Mountain Home;
(vi)
One (1) located in Norfork;
(vii)
One (1) located in Salesville;
(viii)
One (1) located in Yellville;
(ix)
One (1) located in Bull Shoals; and
(x)
One (1) located in Flippin.
(C)
The Tenth District is served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Tenth District judge is elected districtwide.
(E)
The Tenth District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(10)
(A)
The Thirteenth District is composed of Cleburne County.
(B)
The Thirteenth District has four (4) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Heber Springs;
(ii)
One (1) located in Greers Ferry;
(iii)
One (1) located in Concord; and
(iv)
One (1) located in Quitman.
(C)
The Thirteenth District is served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Thirteenth District judge is elected districtwide.
(E)
The Thirteenth District court has districtwide jurisdiction.
(F)
Court costs in the Cleburne County District Court -
Quitman Department shall be allocated as described in §
16-10-604(d)(1)(A)
;
(11)
(A)
The Fourteenth District is composed of Independence County.
(B)
The Fourteenth District has one (1) department located in Batesville.
(C)
The Fourteenth District is served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Fourteenth District judge is elected districtwide.
(E)
The Fourteenth District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(12)
(A)
The Seventeenth District is composed of Greene County.
(B)
The Seventeenth District has two (2) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Paragould; and
(ii)
One (1) located in Marmaduke.
(C)
The Seventeenth District is served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Seventeenth District judge is elected districtwide.
(E)
The Seventeenth District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(13)
(A)
The Eighteenth District shall be composed of the Chickasawba District and the Osceola District in Mississippi County.
(B)
The Eighteenth District has five (5) departments in the Chickasawba District as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Blytheville;
(ii)
One (1) located in Manila;
(iii)
One (1) located in Leachville;
(iv)
One (1) located in Gosnell; and
(v)
One (1) located in Dell.
(C)
The Eighteenth District has one (1) department located in Osceola in the Osceola District.
(D)
The Eighteenth District is served by two (2) state district court judges, with one (1) elected from the Chickasawba District and one (1) elected from the Osceola District.
(E)
Each district court within the Eighteenth District only has jurisdiction within each of the district court's respective districts;
(14)
(A)
The Nineteenth District shall be composed of Craighead County.
(B)
The Nineteenth District shall have two (2) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) department located in Jonesboro; and
(ii)
One (1) department located in Lake City.
(C)
The Nineteenth District shall be served by two (2) state district court judges:
(i)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 1; and
(ii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 2.
(D)
The assignment of judges to departments under subdivision (14)(B) of this section shall be determined by the mutual agreement of the state district court judges of the Nineteenth District.
(E)
The Nineteenth District judges shall be elected districtwide.
(F)
The Nineteenth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(15)
(A)
The Twentieth District is composed of Poinsett County.
(B)
The Twentieth District has five (5) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Marked Tree;
(ii)
One (1) located in Trumann;
(iii)
One (1) located in Tyronza;
(iv)
One (1) located in Lepanto; and
(v)
One (1) located in Harrisburg.
(C)
The Twentieth District is served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Twentieth District judge is elected districtwide.
(E)
The Twentieth District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(16)
(A)
The Twenty-First District shall be composed of Crittenden County.
(B)
The Twenty-First District shall have six (6) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Earle;
(ii)
One (1) located in Gilmore;
(iii)
One (1) located in Jericho;
(iv)
One (1) located in Marion;
(v)
One (1) located in Turrell; and
(vi)
One (1) located in West Memphis.
(C)
The Twenty-First District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Twenty-First District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Twenty-First District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(17)
(A)
The Twenty-Second District shall be composed of Lee County and Phillips County.
(B)
The Twenty-Second District shall have five (5) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Marianna;
(ii)
One (1) located in Helena-West Helena;
(iii)
One (1) located in Lake View;
(iv)
One (1) located in Elaine; and
(v)
One (1) located in Marvell.
(C)
The Twenty-Second District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Twenty-Second District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Twenty-Second District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(18)
(A)
The Twenty-Third District shall be composed of White County and Prairie County.
(B)
The Twenty-Third District shall have thirteen (13) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Beebe;
(ii)
One (1) located in Searcy;
(iii)
One (1) located in Bald Knob;
(iv)
One (1) located in Bradford;
(v)
One (1) located in Judsonia;
(vi)
One (1) located in McRae;
(vii)
One (1) located in Kensett;
(viii)
One (1) located in Pangburn;
(ix)
One (1) located in Rose Bud;
(x)
One (1) located in Des Arc;
(xi)
One (1) located in Hazen;
(xii)
One (1) located in Biscoe; and
(xiii)
One (1) located in De Valls Bluff.
(C)
The Twenty-Third District shall be served by two (2) state district court judges:
(i)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 1; and
(ii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 2.
(D)
The assignment of judges to departments under subdivision (18)(B) of this section shall be determined by the mutual agreement of the state district court judges of the Twenty-Third District.
(E)
The Twenty-Third District judges shall be elected districtwide.
(F)
The Twenty-Third District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(19)
(A)
The Twenty-Fifth District is composed of St. Francis County.
(B)
The Twenty-Fifth District has three (3) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Forrest City;
(ii)
One (1) located in Madison; and
(iii)
One (1) located in Palestine.
(C)
The Twenty-Fifth District is served by two (2) state district court judges.
(D)
The Twenty-Fifth District judges are elected districtwide.
(E)
The Twenty-Fifth District courts have districtwide jurisdiction;
(20)
(A)
The Twenty-Sixth District shall be composed of Ashley County.
(B)
The Twenty-Sixth District shall have two (2) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Crossett; and
(ii)
One (1) located in Hamburg.
(C)
The Twenty-Sixth District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Twenty-Sixth District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Twenty-Sixth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(21)
(A)
The Twenty-Seventh District shall be composed of Desha County and Chicot County.
(B)
The Twenty-Seventh District shall have five (5) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Dermott;
(ii)
One (1) located in Eudora;
(iii)
One (1) located in Lake Village;
(iv)
One (1) located in Dumas; and
(v)
One (1) located in McGehee.
(C)
The Twenty-Seventh District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Twenty-Seventh District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Twenty-Seventh District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(22)
(A)
The Twenty-Eighth District shall be composed of Bradley County and Drew County.
(B)
The Twenty-Eighth District shall have two (2) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Monticello; and
(ii)
One (1) located in Warren.
(C)
The Twenty-Eighth District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Twenty-Eighth District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Twenty-Eighth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(23)
(A)
The Twenty-Ninth District shall be composed of Jefferson County and Lincoln County.
(B)
The Twenty-Ninth District shall have nine (9) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Pine Bluff;
(ii)
One (1) located in Altheimer;
(iii)
One (1) located in Humphrey;
(iv)
One (1) located in White Hall;
(v)
One (1) located in Wabbaseka;
(vi)
One (1) located in Redfield;
(vii)
One (1) located in Star City;
(viii)
One (1) located in Grady; and
(ix)
One (1) located in Gould.
(C)
The Twenty-Ninth District shall be served by three (3) state district court judges:
(i)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 1;
(ii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 2; and
(iii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 3.
(D)
The assignment of judges to departments under subdivision (23)(B) of this section shall be determined by the mutual agreement of the state's district court judges of the Twenty-Ninth District.
(E)
The Twenty-Ninth District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(F)
The Twenty-Ninth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(24)
(A)
The Thirty-First District is composed of Pulaski County.
(B)
The Thirty-First District shall have eleven (11) departments that shall be served by eight (8) state district judges. All the following judges shall be elected districtwide and shall have districtwide territorial jurisdiction:
(i)
The Jacksonville District Court and the Maumelle District Court shall be served by one (1) judge;
(ii)
The Little Rock District Court - First Division shall be served by one (1) judge;
(iii)
The Little Rock District Court - Second Division shall be served by one (1) judge;
(iv)
The Little Rock District Court - Third Division, the Wrightsville District Court, and the Cammack Village District Court shall be served by one (1) judge;
(v)
The North Little Rock District Court - First Division shall be served by one (1) judge;
(vi)
The North Little Rock District Court - Second Division shall be served by one (1) judge;
(vii)
The Pulaski County District Court shall be served by one (1) judge; and
(viii)
The Sherwood District Court shall be served by one (1) judge.
(C)
(i)
Any judge serving as a local district judge in the Thirty-First District whose base annual salary is paid by a city and whose base annual salary is more than the annual salary paid to a state district judge, upon becoming a state district judge, shall continue to be paid by the city the differential amount between his or her annual salary as of December 31, 2016, and the annual salary established by the state for a state district judge.
(ii)
The differential amount as calculated as of December 31, 2016, shall continue as long as the judge continues to serve as a state district judge.
(iii)
Upon leaving office of state district court judge, by retirement or otherwise, his or her successor shall be paid only the salary established for a state district judge without regard to the differential amount provided for in this section;
(25)
(A)
The Thirty-Second District is composed of Saline County and the City of Alexander in Pulaski County.
(B)
The Thirty-Second District has six (6) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Benton;
(ii)
One (1) located in Bryant;
(iii)
One (1) located in Alexander;
(iv)
One (1) located in Bauxite;
(v)
One (1) located in Haskell; and
(vi)
One (1) located in Shannon Hills.
(C)
(i)
The Thirty-Second District is served by two (2) state district court judges.
(ii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 1.
(iii)
One (1) judgeship shall be designated as Division 2.
(D)
The assignment of judges to departments under subdivision (25)(B) of this section is determined by the mutual agreement of the state district court judges in the Thirty-Second District.
(E)
The Thirty-Second District judges are elected districtwide.
(F)
The Thirty-Second District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(26)
(A)
The Thirty-Third District shall be composed of Grant County and Hot Spring County.
(B)
The Thirty-Third District shall have three (3) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Sheridan;
(ii)
One (1) located in Malvern; and
(iii)
One (1) located in Rockport.
(C)
The Thirty-Third District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Thirty-Third District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Thirty-Third District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(27)
(A)
The Thirty-Fourth District shall be composed of Calhoun County, Cleveland County, and Dallas County.
(B)
The Thirty-Fourth District shall have four (4) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Hampton;
(ii)
One (1) located in Rison;
(iii)
One (1) located in Fordyce; and
(iv)
One (1) located in Sparkman.
(C)
The Thirty-Fourth District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Thirty-Fourth District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Thirty-Fourth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction;
(28)
(A)
The Thirty-Fifth District is composed of Union County.
(B)
The Thirty-Fifth District has one (1) department located in El Dorado and one (1) state district court judge.
(C)
The Thirty-Fifth District judge is elected districtwide.
(D)
The Thirty-Fifth District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(29)
(A)
The Thirty-Seventh District is composed of Miller County and Lafayette County.
(B)
The Thirty-Seventh District has five (5) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Lewisville;
(ii)
One (1) located in Bradley;
(iii)
One (1) located in Stamps; and
(iv)
Two (2) located in Texarkana.
(C)
The Thirty-Seventh District is served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Thirty-Seventh District judge is elected districtwide.
(E)
The Thirty-Seventh District court has districtwide jurisdiction;
(30)
(A)
The Thirty-Eighth District shall be composed of Hempstead County and Nevada County.
(B)
The Thirty-Eighth District shall have two (2) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Hope; and
(ii)
One (1) located in Prescott.
(C)
The Thirty-Eighth District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Thirty-Eighth District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Thirty-Eighth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction; and
(31)
(A)
The Fortieth District shall be composed of Clark County.
(B)
The Fortieth District shall have four (4) departments as follows:
(i)
One (1) located in Arkadelphia;
(ii)
One (1) located in Amity;
(iii)
One (1) located in Caddo Valley; and
(iv)
One (1) located in Gurdon.
(C)
The Fortieth District shall be served by one (1) state district court judge.
(D)
The Fortieth District judge shall be elected districtwide.
(E)
The Fortieth District court shall have districtwide jurisdiction.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 40,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 87,§ 1, eff. 2/9/2021.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 935,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 723,§ 3, eff. 8/1/2017.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 1081,§ 1, eff. 7/22/2015.
Acts 2011, No. 1219, § 9.