Judges Elect New Officers at Fall Meeting

District Judge Josh Newton swears in the new officers: President and Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison; 1st Vice President and Lonoke County Judge Doug Erwin; 2nd Vice President and Jackson County Judge Jeff Phillips; and Secretary/Treasurer and Sevier County Judge Greg Ray.

The County Judges Association gathered Sept. 23-25, 2019, in Benton/Saline County. The conference began with a Joint Meeting of the Senate and House City, County, and Local committees. The discussion focused on jail overcrowding and jail reimbursement.The conference was followed by a meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on Levees. Judges also elected new officers and executive board members during their conference.

Above: Immediate Past President and Madison County Judge Frank Weaver (middle) stands with Shug Banks Memorial Scholarship winner, Beau Stephens (left) and his father, Clay. Beau is a student at the Boston School of Music. His father is a road grader operator with Madison County. Above: Sebastian County Judge David Hudson (far right) testifies about jail reimbursement before the Joint Meeting of the Senate and House City, County, and Local committees. With him are (from left to right) AAC Legal Counsel Lindsey Bailey, Arkansas Department of Correction Chief of Staff Solomon Graves, and Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery. Far left: Former Razorback football player David Bazzel, who now is a radio show co-host and Razorback analyst and reporter for Little Rock’s ABC affiliate, served as the keynote speaker during the luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Left: Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson was among seven judges to speak to their peers about their energy efficiency and solar energy efforts and the benefits of pursuing such projects.