A fourth candidate on Wednesday joined the race for Little Rock district judge, citing a 20-year legal career built on a family legacy of public service that includes two federal judges, a retired Arkansas Supreme Court chief justice and a longtime lawmaker.
JaNan Arnold Davis of Maumelle joins attorney Latonya Austin, Public Defender Peggy Egan and prosecutor Melanie Martin in the contest for the position vacated earlier this year when Alice Lightle moved to Colorado after seven years on the bench.
In her announcement Wednesday, Davis, 45, said she was inspired to pursue public service by her father, Bob "Sody" Arnold, who was Clark County's state representative for 18 years.
She also cited the examples of other relatives, the late federal Judge Richard Arnold; Judge Morris "Buzz" Arnold of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; and W.H. "Dub" Arnold, who was the state Supreme Court's chief justice for seven years.
Davis, who was Maumelle's city attorney and prosecutor for 14 years, has been endorsed by that city's Fraternal Order of Police chapter. An associate at the Rainwater, Holt & Sexton law firm, Davis specialized in defending county officials and police against civil-rights claims. She also has been endorsed by senior partner Mike Rainwater, who called her "the best person" for the post, which pays $140,000 a year.
District court is where criminal suspects arrested by city police make their first court appearances after arrest. It has jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes, city ordinance violations, small-claims disputes and civil cases involving damages of up to $25,000.
Voters will select a new judge in May who will take office in 2019. The post is currently held by Hugh Finkelstein under appointment by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Metro on 10/08/2017