What does a district judge do?

Cases they decide

• Misdemeanour criminal cases.
• Traffic cases.
• City ordinance violations.
• Civil cases to $25,000 and small claims to $5,000.

Steps in felony cases

A felony is tried in circuit court, but a district judge handles the first stages. Administrative Order 18 § 6(b)(5) lists the duties, and Benton County's plan adopts them:

• Issue a search warrant (Rule 13.1).
• Issue an arrest warrant (Rule 7.1, A.C.A. § 16-81-104 — Warrant of arrest generally, on Justia (opens in a new tab)) or a summons (Rule 6.1).
• Make a reasonable cause determination (Rule 4.1(e)).
• Conduct a first appearance (Rule 8.1) — appoint counsel, inform the defendant, conduct the pre-trial release inquiry, and release from custody.
• Conduct initial uncontested extradition proceedings. Contested ones go to the circuit court's administrative judge.

In Benton County these referrals are divided equally: each of the 4 judges takes 25 per cent. The plan lets first-appearance hearings be held at a judge's own courthouse or at the Benton County Detention Facility, by video or audio link or with the prisoner transported.

What they do not do

• Accept a felony guilty plea. Administrative Order 18 § 6(b)(5) permits a misdemeanour plea and bars a felony one.
• Try felonies, which belong to circuit court.
• Handle divorce, custody, probate or juvenile cases — also circuit court.
• Run county government. That is the county judge, an executive office with no connection to this court.
• Give legal advice to anyone appearing before them, including people without a lawyer.

How the office is held

Arkansas state district judges are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections, districtwide rather than by division. Benton County's four divisions run on the same cycle; the current terms began in January 2025 and the seats are next contested in 2028. Judicial elections.