VOTE411 Voter Guide

Circuit Courts are the state’s primary trial courts. Division 2 primarily handles civil, probate, and domestic relations cases. Civil cases involve lawsuits over $25,000, including matters such as personal injury, employment, contracts, and property issues. Probate cases address wills, estates, and guardianships. Domestic relations cases include divorces, child custody, and child support.

A circuit judge’s duties are to preside impartially over jury and bench trials, interpret and apply the law, rule on motions and evidence, issue written decisions when required, and manage the docket efficiently so cases are resolved fairly and without unnecessary delay.

I routinely handle the complex cases heard in Division 2. For the past nine years, I have defended the United States in civil litigation, including medical malpractice, employment discrimination, car wrecks, premises liability, and other complex civil matters. I was lead counsel in a multi-day federal employment discrimination jury trial.

Before that, I served five years as a prosecutor handling serious felony cases, where I developed substantial jury trial experience and exercised sound judgment in difficult and consequential decisions. Prior to that, I was in private practice handling commercial and civil litigation.

The skills and attributes I bring to the bench are unquestioned integrity, fairness, calm judgment, and common sense.

Judge Threet has maintained an efficient and well-managed docket, and I do not believe major changes are needed. However, I intend to bring fresh ideas focused on efficiency and access to justice. I plan to institute a pilot program requiring mediation in higher-value, complex civil cases, while ensuring greater use of existing resources such as the Access & Visitation Mediation Program for free or reduced-cost mediation in custody matters. I will also bring my federal court experience to the division by implementing early case management conferences in complex cases to address preliminary issues, set firm deadlines, and establish trial dates that are respected absent true emergencies.

The office I seek is Circuit Judge Division 2, which is commonly known as a civil trial court bench serving Washington and Madison Counties. This bench will hear 15% of the family law, 20% of the civil, 25% of the civil commitment and 25% of the probate docket. This bench is not a specialty bench but is a “grassroots” bench. It will hear the matters that touch your everyday lives that I have handled for years right beside you: personal injury, contract disputes, divorce, guardianship, evictions, adoption, malpractice, protective order hearings, involuntary commitments, commercial litigation, property line disputes, etc. My job as your judge will be to apply the law as written, in a fair and just manner, without delay.

I have been privileged to be your voice in our judicial system for 20 years in trial courts across NWA. I am the only candidate whose practice has encompassed EVERY area this bench covers (listed previously). I am the ONLY candidate who has ever tried a civil matter to a jury in state court. That experience is necessary--the bench that I am running for is a state civil trial and jury trial bench. I have been a public defender, real estate attorney, own my own firm, handled admin. hearings, divorce, appeals, and represent every taxpayer to recover stolen taxes. I am on the AR Executive "Ethics" Committee, meaning I am already making decisions on attorney ethical violations and issuing sanctions, fines, costs and initiating disbarment.

I have a passion for justice, and I will make certain the judicial system in Washington and Madison counties remains accessible to all and the judicial process is timely. My court will be centered on putting justice within reach by reducing costs of litigation and providing real access to affordable resources/forms, reduced mediation and ad litem expenses, etc. I will implement scheduling orders which will set deadlines for attorneys to comply with discovery, motion practice, witness disclosure and evidence exchange. These deadlines help ensure the docket remains fluid and not stagnant. The old adage, “justice delayed is justice denied,” is just true. A clogged docket will not be an impediment to a citizen receiving their day in my court.

Division 2 is a trial court of general jurisdiction- with ability to hear criminal, civil, probate, domestic relations & juvenile cases. Under the current administrative order, Division 2 is expected to primarily hear civil (contract disputes, personal injury, employment) cases, domestic relations (divorce, custody, child support) & probate (adoption, guardianship, estates) cases. The Circuit Court Judge presides over both jury & bench (no jury) trials, ensuring fairness & due process by hearing the testimony, judging credibility and demeanor of witnesses, managing the admission of evidence & delivering well-reasoned rulings which comply with the law. Circuit Judges also issue warrants, supervise court staff & efficiently manage the docket.

Licensed attorney since 1999/partner/owner of Miller Butler Schneider Pawlik & Rozzell- offices in Rogers & Fayetteville/Began my career as public defender, promoted to Chief Deputy Public Defender, representing indigent persons in serious felony cases-including murder, rape & sex crimes/handled hundreds of cases- including complex divorce & custody litigation, wage & hour collective actions, pregnancy discrimination & guardianships /Served as a certified Attorney ad Litem- representing children in complex custody cases/Certified to accept all serious felonies by the Public Defender Commission/graduate of National Criminal Defense College/Appointed Special Associate Justice, Arkansas Supreme Court/Past President Arkansas Bar Association

Will look for opportunities to improve access to justice for unrepresented litigants. Ability for pro se litigants to utilize self-help resources before they appear in a courtroom can minimize unpreparedness and resulting inefficient use of courtroom time and resources.