LR district judicial hopefuls ready for role
Both candidates seeking to replace Melanie Martin as Little Rock’s criminal court judge in Tuesday’s election promise they can hit the ground running on Day 1 to take over the position in a seamless transition.
Martin will be one of the two new circuit judges elected to the Little-Rock based 6th Judicial Circuit of Perry and Pulaski counties. A district judge since 2019, Martin is unopposed for the circuit judgeship to take over the seat that came into play with the retirement of Barry Sims in 2022. The nonpartisan judicial elections, held concurrently with the political primary, are Tuesday. All judges elected by majority vote on Tuesday, will take office Jan. 1. Early voting runs through Monday.
On the ballot for the district judge post are Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce, the circuit’s longest serving judge who’s been on the bench for about 25 years, and senior deputy prosecutor Jill Kamps, who has worked in that office for the past 20 years under retired prosecutor Larry Jegley and his successor Will Jones.
Voters who live in both Perry and Pulaski counties are eligible to vote for the candidates for the position, formally titled State District Judge District 31, Little Rock 1, which pays $168,803. District judges serve four-year terms.
The court is the first-appearance destination for felony and misdemeanor offenders arrested in the city limits, with some exceptions. Further, the district judge presides over misdemeanor criminal cases and is the primary source of arrest warrants and search warrants for city police.
The position also manages the mental health court. It is also one of four criminal district courts in the circuit, and the judges are also empowered to hear some circuit-court proceedings like orders of protection, evictions and child support.
Kamps, whose duties include supervising the deputy prosecutors assigned to the district courts, said she’s the only candidate who has been in the Little Rock district courtroom on a regular basis, making her extremely familiar with the operations of the court and the demands of the position.
“I have seen how important this court is for the people of our community who have been victims and witnesses of crime and I’ve also seen the power that this Court has to change lives through the Little Rock Mental Health Specialty Court,” Kamps said. “This court is a 100-percent criminal court and I am the only person running for this position who has had any significant criminal law experience.”
The judge requires a deep knowledge of the law since she’s regularly called on at all hours of the day and night to review warrant applications for police with no advance notice. Sometimes the job requires a 24-hour day to handle all of its duties.
“This requires that our judge be knowledgeable about criminal law and procedure and have the energy and excitement necessary to handle this at all times of the day and night every day of the week. For the past 7 years, I have reviewed almost every felony arrest affidavit prior to its submission to the current judge. I am the only candidate with this experience.”
Her web sites are Jillforjudge.org, JillforJudge on Instagram and Jill Kamps for District Judge on Facebook. Kamps said she’s proud to be endorsed by the Little Rock and North Little Rock Fraternal Orders of Police, former Circuit Judge Marion Humphrey and Jegley, her mentor.
Pierce, 69, is running for the position due to a provision in the law that requires Circuit judges, Court of Appeals judges and Supreme Court justices to forfeit their retirement if they take office after turning 70. Pierce said he’s not ready to go, stating that his decades on the bench make him the best qualified for the position.
“For the last 25 years I have been a circuit judge for Pulaski and Perry counties, I have been a dedicated public servant. I want to continue to serve. It is as simple as that,” he said. “I am not ready to retire and with my qualifications, I feel I can continue to offer my unique abilities and skills to the litigants and attorneys who will appear before me as a district judge.”
Pierce’s campaign website is www.judgepierce.com. He’s also on Facebook as Judge Mackie Pierce and Instagram as judge m ac kie pierce. Pierce said he’s the best candidate because he’s an experienced judge, with a proven record of fairness and impartiality.
“Not only do I have more judicial experience than any other candidate presently running for any judicial position in Pulaski and Perry counties, I have 18 years of private practice experience which gives me an unequaled viewpoint in doing my job as a judge,” he said. “I have the knowledge, temperament, judicial skills and the experience which makes me the best qualified candidate for this position.”
Pierce said his decades on the bench — he’s been reelected four times without opposition — shows he has the confidence of the bar as well as the voters of Perry and Pulaski County. Further, he’s also been honored as Trial Judge of the Year by the Pulaski County Bar Association.