NCJ Number
170202
Date Published
1997
Length
23 pages
Annotation
The 1996-1997 annual report of the Arkansas judiciary describes the court system and its accomplishments and also covers court administration and funding issues.
Abstract
The Arkansas judiciary is a nonunified court system that consists of three tiers. The top tier is made up of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. Parties are entitled to only one appeal which is taken either to the Supreme Court or to the Court of Appeals. The second tier consists of circuit, chancery, and probate courts. Arkansas is only one of three States to maintain separate courts of law and equity. Judges in courts of law are called circuit judges, while judges in courts of equity are called chancellors. The third tier includes limited jurisdiction courts. Courts of common pleas and justice of the peace courts are primarily historical in nature, with very few cases reported. County courts maintain jurisdiction over only a few minor matters involving county taxes and county roads. Limited jurisdiction courts primarily include municipal courts with jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases, preliminary felony cases, and civil cases in matters involving less than $5,000. The Arkansas court system is administered by a combination of State, county, and local officials; lay and professional committees; and judicial and court employee associations. Courts are financed through State, county, and city appropriations. Accomplishments of the Arkansas judiciary in 1996-1997 focused on funding of public defenders, expansion of the Court of Appeals, improvement of the foster care system, changes in trial judgeships and districting, and constitutional reform. Tables, figures, and photographs