FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

T(Washington and Madison counties) DIVISION 8

he Arkansas Legislature in its last session created a new judgeship to help spread the growing caseload of this two-county circuit. The person elected will preside over the eighth courtroom serving the circuit.

Once elected, most judges remain on the bench until they step down. Few face serious challengers when they file for reelection, and most don’t face challengers at all. So opportunities for local attorneys to toss their hats into a contest for a open judgeship are few and far between.

In this new division, the open seat has sparked an almost unheard of number — five — of candidates for the post, which will become the circuit’s second judge assigned to hear juvenile cases. The new judgeship will also be focused on family law matters. It’s noteworthy, however, that under Arkansas’ judicial structure, all circuit judges hold authority to hear any type of case assigned to them.

The five candidates in Division 8 are Mieka Hatcher, Brian Hogue, Conrad Odom, Tim Snively and Diane Warren. They represent an embarrassment of riches for the voters because all five bring strong qualities and experience. We’re fairly convinced the voters of the Fourth Judicial Circuit ultimately cannot go wrong, given the quality of these candidates.

But voters get a single vote and, with regard to our endorsements, we hold ourselves to that standard, too.

So, after our interviews and monitoring the forums and other campaign

In this division, Fourth Circuit voters actually have a contest between a longtime judge, Stacey Zimmerman, and a challenger, Robert L. Depper III. It’s certainly not the first time Zimmerman has faced a challenger, but she’s been presiding over juvenile court for more than 20 years.

We recommend voters stick with Zimmerman, in part because there is some wisdom in not causing too much disruption to the juvenile system that’s been working. As noted above, juvenile cases will be spread over two judges — this division and the new Division 8 — come 2021. Mixing a brand new judge with Zimmerman resources, we recommend Conrad Odom to the voters.

Odom, who has practiced law here for 28 years, has a history of public service as a member of Fayetteville’s City Council and the city’s Planning Commission. He’s stepped up to fill a vacated post on the Fayetteville School Board. And devotes himself in leadership of a Boy Scout troop in downtown Fayetteville.

In discussing the judicial role, Odom frankly seems like exactly the kind of attorney who would end up being a judge in anyone’s hometown. Well respected and genial, he nonetheless displays the kind of integrity and devotion we think will be the right balance for a sitting judge — compassionate but firm, knowledgeable in the law and concerned not just about what’s happening within his courtroom, but within the community he serves.

Odom said will pursue a calendar docketing system to make efficient use of everyone’s time in court and, he hopes, will keep people from having to sit around waiting. He also discussed exploring whether an occasional night court session would help people who need to appear before him.

In all likelihood, this five-person race will result in a runoff. Unfortunately, under Arkansas law, that will mean the two top vote-getters will have to wait until November for a final decision from voters. If a runoff is necessary, we hope Odom becomes one of the top two entering the fall campaign.

DIVISION 3

will, we think, create the right mix of stability and new ideas.

Certainly, Depper and others have been critical of what we’d call inefficiencies in the way Zimmerman runs her court. We certainly think, and hope, that the addition of the second judge will lighten the load Zimmerman’s court has carried for years and help things run better. Few would deny Zimmerman’s passion for her role in adjudicating the cases of young people, in helping children find their way through challenging circumstances. A less-crowded docket, we think, will make accomplishing her goal easier.