ARCOURTS.GOV - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Senate Judicial Committee
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- Attorney at Law
- Member of Committee
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- Attorney
- Member of Committee
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- Member of Committee
- Prosecutor Coordinator, Arkansas Office of the Prosecutor Coordinator
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- Reporter
- Member of Committee
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- Baxter County Circuit Court Clerk
- Member of Committee
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- Craighead County Circuit Clerk
- Member of Committee
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- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Carol is the Chief Juvenile Officer for Saline County. She started her career as a high school teacher. She went on to work for the Saline County Sheriff's Office and later transitioned into the Juvenile Division as a juvenile probation officer. She served as Chief Deputy before assuming her current role. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of House Judiciary Committee
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- Representative
- Member of Committee
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- Commission Member
- Director of Human Resources for Pulaski County
Chastity is Director of Human Resources for Pulaski County. Before her current position, Chastity served with the Pulaski County Public Defender's Office. Most recently, she was Chief Deputy County Attorney for Pulaski County. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Secretary Gillespie has led the Department of Human Services since 2016. She began her career in public service as the Military Legislative Assistant and Press Secretary for Congressman Richard Ray. She served as Director of Federal Relations for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Counselor to the Governor of Massachusetts, and Senior Advisor to the Romney for President campaign. She was Senior Managing Director for McKenna Long & Aldridge and Principal for Dentons before returning to public service in Arkansas. She has served on the Commission since 2016.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff, Office of Attorney General Leslie Rutledge
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Prosecuting Attorney
David was a sergeant in the United States Army, and he later worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida as a Customer Service Representative. David served in the Arkansas House of Representatives before his current work with the Department of Human Services as a Program Coordinator. David and his wife are the proud parents of eight children, including children they fostered and adopted.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Derek has worked for the Commission since 2019. He began his career as an English and Special Education teacher. Most recently, he served as the Special Education Coordinator at the Arkansas Juvenile Assessment and Treatment Center.
Job Titles:
- Commission Member
- LCSW, Commission Member
Diana has worked with families for over 25 years to evaluate and treat children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior. Diana emphasizes community safety and recognizes the importance of helping parents develop the skills necessary to support their children in the best possible way. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
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- Governor
- Member of Committee
Doug Smith, Governor's Liaison to Law Enforcement and City and County Governments
Drew has dedicated his entire career to juvenile justice. His experience spans all facets of juvenile justice, from youth detention to court administration. He is currently the Benton County Chief Probation Officer and Site Coordinator for the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. He served on the Commission's Juvenile Justice Reform Subcommittee from 2016 to 2018, and he has served as a Commissioner since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Representative
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
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- Support Specialist, Arkansas Department of Human Services
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- District Court Clerk
- Member of Committee
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- Executive Director, Arkansas Public Defender Commission
- Member of Committee
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- Member of Committee
- Name Mayor
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
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- District Court Judge
- Member of Committee
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- District Court Judge
- Member of Committee
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- District Court Judge
- Member of Committee
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- Circuit Judge
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Representative
- District Court Judge
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Circuit Judge
- Member of Committee
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- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Standing Commission Member
Jennifer has served as Juvenile Justice Division Director since 2017. Before that, she most recently served as an Arkansas Assistant Attorney General. Her experience includes work as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Domestic Relations Attorney Ad Litem, Dependency Neglect Parent Counsel Attorney, attorney in private practice for the Peel Law Firm and as a sole practitioner, and law clerk for the Arkansas Municipal League and Arkansas Attorney General. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Job Titles:
- General Counsel, Arkansas Municipal League
Judge Halsey served as a Circuit Judge in the 2nd Judicial District. She retired at the end of 2020 and continues to judge by assignment from the Supreme Court. Barbara considered the work of the juvenile division to be the most satisfying of the cases that she handled. Her prior experience includes high school teaching for 11 years before attending law school at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law. For 19 years, she had a private law practice.
Judge Brown was first elected to the circuit bench in 2008. Previously, he was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the 11th West Judicial District, an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and managing partner of Brown & McKissic Law Firm. He also served in the legislative branch as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. He is a proud and engaged member of the Pine Bluff community. Judge Brown has been actively involved in numerous judicial committees, including as a Commissioner on the Judicial Discipline and Disability Committee and as former chair of the Juvenile Judges' Committee. He has served on the Commission since 2018.
Judge French has served as a Circuit Judge in 10th District since 2005. Before that, she was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the 10th District for district court and juvenile court cases. She has also worked as an attorney in private practice.
Job Titles:
- Judge
- Chairman of Committee
Judge Braswell was elected to the circuit bench in 2014. He began his career as a law clerk for Circuit Judge Tim Fox in Pulaski County, and he went on to serve as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Pulaski County. Before his judicial service, he was Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the 20th Judicial District. He is the current Chair of the Juvenile Judges' Committee, and he was formerly chair of the Arkansas Youth Justice Reform Board. He has served on the Commission since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman and Standing Commission Member
Justice Wood has served on the Commission since 2014, and she has been chair since 2015. She was elected to the Supreme Court of Arkansas in 2014. She previously served as a Circuit Judge in the 20th Judicial District and as an appellate judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals. Her experience as a Circuit Judge gave her a passion for improving court processes for families affected by juvenile justice and child welfare cases. Before her judicial service, Justice Wood was an attorney in private practice, a Hearing Officer for the Conway Housing Authority, and an Assistant Dean for the William H. Bowen School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Miller County Judge
Job Titles:
- Reporter
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Commission Member
- Member of Committee
LeAnne previously served as an attorney for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. She also served on active and reserve duty in the U.S. Army, retiring after 30 years from the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the rank of Brigadier General. She served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Job Titles:
- United Family Services in 2015 As Special Program Manager
Lekita joined United Family Services in 2015 as Special Program Manager, and she was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in 2019. Before that, she worked for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as Director of Printing, Mail, Television, and Radio Services, and also as Assistant Director of Technical Services. She also worked as a Corporate Research Assistant to monitor changes affecting investors. She is a certified Girls' Circle facilitator and a certified Habilitation, Empowerment, Accountability Therapy facilitator.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of Committee
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- Attorney
- Member of Committee
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- Sheriff
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Standing Commission Member
Michael began as DYS Director in 2018. He previously served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Criminal Justice Policy Advisor to the Governor, Attorney Specialist for the Department of Human Services, and Assistant Director of the Division of Medical Services. He has served on the Commission since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director, Office of the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Mischa has spent her entire career serving Arkansans through her work with the Department of Human Services. She began her career as an attorney representing DHS in dependency-neglect cases, adult maltreatment cases, and central registry administrative hearings. She later served as Deputy Counsel managing DCFS attorneys, Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division, and Adult Protective Services. She was Assistant Director of Compliance and Monitoring for the DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Services before she began her current role as Director of DCFS.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Arkansas Supreme Court, Office of Professional Programs
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Governor
- Governor 's Liaison to the Commission / Senior Advisor to the Governor for Child Welfare
Phyllis is the Child Welfare Senior Advisor and Intern Director for Governor Asa Hutchinson. She began her work with the Governor's office in 2015 as an Advisor on Child Advocacy and Policy.
Job Titles:
- Standing Commission Member
Rich has been Executive Director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families since 2004. He began his career as a public policy analyst for Metroplan. He was later a Research Associate for the Arkansas Institute and a Research Analyst for the Arkansas Department of Health. Before his appointment as Executive Director, he served for nearly a decade as the Research and Fiscal Policy Director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. He has served on the Commission since 2011.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
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- Greene County Deputy
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Name Representative
Job Titles:
- Commission Member
- Senior Director for the Walmart Global Treasury
Sabrina is Senior Director for the Walmart Global Treasury. She began her career as Senior Manager for Diamond Management & Technology Consultants. She later served as Vice President of Program Management for Citi, Vice President of Product Management for HSBC, and Senior Principal for Sagence. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Senator Irvin represents District 18 in the Arkansas Senate. She began her career as a News Editor for KATV Channel 7 News. Later, she worked in marketing as Marketing Director of Tipton & Hurst and Director of Marketing, Research and Development for Stone County Ironworks and Calico Rock Ironworks. She has served as an Adjunct Professor and Director of the Department of Dance at Hendrix College. She is currently the Marketing Director at Irvin-Dibrell Clinic in addition to her role as a Senator. She previously served on the Commission from 2012 to 2015, and she began her current term in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Circuit Clerk
- Member of Committee
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- Dallas County Sheriff
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Prosecuting Attorney
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Tom Masseau, Commission Member Executive Director, Disability Rights Arkansas, Inc. and President of National Disability Rights Network Board of Directors A.A., Lansing Community College B.A., Michigan State University Tom has been Executive Director of Disability Rights Arkansas since 2013, and he has been President of the National Disability Rights Network Board of Directors since 2019. He began his career as Director of Government and Media Relations for the Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, Inc. Most recently, he was Executive Director for Disability Rights Wisconsin. He has served on the Commission since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Arkansas Attorney
- Member of Committee