AR SB658

Creates five additional circuit judgeships: one each in the Second, Fourth, and Twelfth Judicial Districts, and two in the Twenty-first and Nineteenth Judicial District-West.

New judgeships have jurisdiction in law, equity, probate, and juvenile matters.

Vacancies in the Second, Fourth, and Nineteenth-West Judicial Circuits shall be filled by election at the 2020 preferential primary election, with elected judges taking office January 1, 2021.

Governor shall appoint qualified persons to temporarily fill judgeships in the Twelfth and Twenty-first Judicial Circuits until January 1, 2021, when elected successors take office.

House and Senate Judiciary Committees shall conduct a joint study on judicial circuit composition and circuit court judgeship allocation statewide, with recommendations due by September 1, 2020.

Emergency clause makes all sections except Section 2 effective July 1, 2019, due to immediate need for additional judges based on pending case numbers.