Following in Dad’s Footsteps

Shirron wants to continuing serving others as circuit judge

Throughout his life, much of Stephen Shirron’s career path has mirrored his father’s life.

They both were attorney in private practices and then served as a prosecuting attorney.

Now Shirron is continuing the tradition of following in his father’s footsteps and has begun serving Grant and Hot Spring counties as a circuit judge.

Shirron, 41, is the same age as his father, Phil Shirron, when he was elected to serve the same counties decades ago.

Shirron’s father tenure as judge began in 1989, and he served on the bench for 23 years.

Shirron, who is native of Grant County, graduated from Sheridan High School in 1998.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University before attending law school in Florida.

He then returned to Arkansas and established a private practice alongside Sherry Burnett in Malvern. Shirron worked in that practice for seven years.

When Judge Eddy Easley was elected to serve a circuit court judge, Shirron was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy as Hot Spring County prosecuting attorney. He served in that role for two years before working as chief deputy prosecutor in the office. Shirron had prosecuted cases with the Hot Spring County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for a total of eight years.

After winning the circuit judge race during an election in March of 2020. Shirron will once again be following Easley, who has retired.

As a circuit judge, Shirron will be handling cases for the entire district which include Grant and Hot Spring counties, he said.

His office will be set up in Grant County but he will be presiding over cases in both counties.

Shirron mentioned that is it a “tremendous honor and tremendous privilege to be able to serve my communities in this capacity” adding that his family history in the judicial system in both counties makes the position even more special.

“My dad was a circuit judge for 23 years… he was very well respected and liked. My family name obviously has value based on the good and positive things we have done in both of these communities. I have carried that on myself proudly in not only in my private practice here but also in serving as the prosecutor and subsequently the deputy prosecutor,” he said.

Over the years, Shirron said he has received lots of sage advice from his dad.

“My father is a very intelligent, very capable man and has a vast knowledge base built upon his experiences in the legal field over the years. That has been a tremendous resource for me,” he said.

Going into the new year, Shirron plans to continue to follow his dad’s advice.

“One of the things my dad has often told me is that as long as you do the right thing, what you believe is the right thing, and you treat people with dignity and respect and you do it in a fair fashion, nobody will begrudge you for doing your job,” Shirron said. “I hope that I can bring that to my office.”

His goals as judge include being fair, impartial and consistent.

In his new position, Shirron said he is looking

forward to see a new perspective. He mentioned that the judge sets the atmosphere for the entire courtroom experience.

He also is looking forward to helping people. Even though judges are to be neutral and non biased, decisions judges make give people an outcome, stability and finality, he said.

His new position also has some fulfilling aspects including presiding over adoption cases.

In the age of COVID- 19, Shirron said there is history in the making for the court system.

During the beginning of a new year, he expects there will be a backlog.

In the former position with the HSC Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, he along with other prosecutors worked to continue addressing cases through online hearings and limited in- person appearances.

“We are doing the best we can to keep the system moving so that people can have justice not only in the criminal side but as in the domestic relations, civil, probate and juvenile side of things. Everybody is entitled to their day in court and justice should be swift,” Shirron said noted that a radical, rapid change has had to occur.

Shirron plans to continue these virtual practices as judge but is looking forward to having people before him in the courtroom.

“There is something important about being in a courtroom. It has an aura and nostalgia and commands a respect that is inherently just lacking in these other circumstances,” he said. “I think it is important for litigants to be in that circumstance in that moment and understand that what they are doing is important not only to them but to everybody else.”

He also noted that in the world today, politics is very decisive, but he is thankful that he lives and works in small communities where people still care about each other and work “toward the common good.”

Shirron also mentioned that the election process was a new experience for him since his father was elected when he was only a child. He mentioned that his entire family has been extremely supportive along the way.

Shirron and his wife Helen have two daughters, Madison, 10, and Reagan, 7.

He commended his family and other volunteers who helped him during the campaign process. They met tons of people and knocked on thousands of doors.

He said he was astonished by the number of people who has become friends with through the election process.

Before beginning his new term, Shirron was sworn in by his father Friday morning at the Grant County Courthouse.

His father was appointed to serve as a special judge for the ceremony.