What are Arkansas Court Records?

With over 3 million residents, Arkansas operates a court system organized into three tiers: appellate courts (including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals), circuit courts, and district courts. The state of Arkansas authorizes the use of the death penalty for capital murder or treason. Furthermore, Arkansas's court system manages a substantial caseload of over 1 million new cases, including civil and criminal matters. The public can access case records upon request, as they are considered public information. Court records in Arkansas include the following:

Docket Sheet

The docket sheet extensively tracks everything about a filed case from the start to the end.

Judgments and Orders

Judgments refer to a judge or jury's official decisions in a specific case. The court typically records and confirms these decisions, formally announcing the verdict. On the other hand, a court order is a formal document through which a judge's decisions, directives, or instructions are officially issued and implemented.

Transcripts

Transcripts are verbatim official records of court proceedings. They record everything said during a trial word for word. Transcripts are necessary as evidence for a motion or when appealing a decision. You need to contact the court clerk where the case was heard to get a copy of the transcripts.

Evidence

Both parties in legal proceedings are responsible for presenting physical evidence, such as objects and substances, and document-based evidence, such as records and reports obtained from police documentation, to support their respective arguments.

Court Minutes

This is a document containing the events in a court trial, such as recesses, testimonies, and official statements, alongside their time of occurrence.

Pleadings

Pleadings are statements that outline each party's requests to the court. These requests may include complaints, plea bargains, or motions.

Briefs

Briefs are documents that contain crucial factual details, pertinent laws, and the arguments put forth by the involved parties regarding the contested issues. Typically, legal counsel prepares these briefs for submission to the court, ensuring that all relevant information is outlined clearly and organized.

Types of Court Cases

Arkansas courts typically handle two types of cases: civil and criminal. Civil cases usually involve disputes between parties, while criminal cases revolve around crimes against the state. However, in both cases, the court's responsibility is to establish fault and identify any violated laws or rights.

Civil Cases

In Arkansas, a civil case usually involves a claim for money or property. The person who files the case is called the plaintiff, and the person being sued is the defendant. Civil cases begin when the plaintiff files a written complaint with the court stating the reason for the complaint against the defendant and asking for money to cover damages. Afterward, the defendant is formally served with a copy of the complaint, after which they typically respond by outlining their reasons for disputing the charges or asserting why they should not be liable for the damages or required to pay the amount claimed by the plaintiff. The defendant's answer may include a counterclaim or a complaint against the plaintiff related to the same situation. These written documents are called pleadings. Pleadings are not evidence but are the claims made during an argument between the parties. Common examples of civil cases include:

Divorces
Contract Disputes
Landlord and tenant Disputes

Criminal Cases

When an alleged violation of state law occurs, the prosecuting attorney, acting on behalf of the people of Arkansas, will formally file a criminal complaint against the individual accused of breaking the law. The accused is usually referred to as the defendant. Note that a criminal complaint functions as an accusation and does not constitute evidence. The prosecuting attorney has to prove the accusations during proceedings. Should the defendant be found guilty, potential repercussions encompass fines, incarceration, or, in extreme cases, the death penalty.

Common examples of criminal cases include:

Murder
Domestic Violence
Burglary

What Are the Different Courts in Arkansas?

The Arkansas Judicial System was allocated an operating budget of $1,005,450 for 2022, with $530,000 designated for personnel and $475,45 for operations. The Arkansas court system is structured into three levels, each with jurisdiction. The court system is composed of the following levels:

District Courts

District courts preside over a wide array of cases, such as traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal offenses, violations of local ordinances, civil disputes involving amounts up to $25,000, and small claims amounting to less than $5,000. Arkansas has 39 district court districts, each overseen by 66 judges elected to serve four-year terms.

Circuit Courts

Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. They have the authority to preside over a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, juvenile, domestic relations, and probate matters. The state is divided into 28 circuits, and there are a total of 126 circuit court judges. These judges are elected in nonpartisan elections and must have been licensed attorneys in the state for at least six years before taking office. Each circuit judge in the state serves a six-year term.

Appellate Courts

Arkansas has two levels of Appellate Courts. The Court of Appeals operates as the intermediate appellate court, while the Supreme Court serves as the court of last resort.

The Court of Appeals

The Arkansas Court of Appeals is the middle-level court in Arkansas. Cases that want to be appealed are usually filed with this court. Cases not heard by the Arkansas Court of Appeals fall under the Arkansas Supreme Court's jurisdiction. It's important to know that there is no immediate right to appeal a decision made by the Arkansas Court of Appeals to the Arkansas Supreme Court. Instead, an appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court may be allowed if the party requesting a review of an opinion applies for an appeal, if the Arkansas Court of Appeals approves the right to an appeal, or if the Arkansas Supreme Court finds that it should have been assigned the original appeal. The Arkansas Court of Appeals has twelve judges chosen through nonpartisan elections.

Supreme Court

The Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the state. This court primarily handles appeals related to interpreting or constructing the Constitution of Arkansas and criminal appeals where the death penalty or life imprisonment has been imposed. It also hears petitions for quo warranto, prohibition, injunction, or mandamus targeted at state, county, or municipal officials, as well as circuit courts and matters concerning elections and election procedures. The court is composed of seven justices who are elected in a statewide non-partisan election in Arkansas.

How Many Federal Courts Are in Arkansas?

Arkansas has two federal district courts: the United States District Court for the Eastern District and the United States District Court for the Western District. The district courts have jurisdiction over civil cases involving citizens of different states where the amount in question exceeds $75,000. Additionally, they handle bankruptcy cases, patents, copyrights, and admiralty or maritime law. Furthermore, each federal district court in Arkansas includes a specialized bankruptcy court that manages bankruptcy proceedings. In case of appeal, decisions made by these district courts can be taken to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Eastern District has five judges, while the Western District has three. These judges are appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

How Many Court Cases Are Filed Each Year in Arkansas?

The judicial system in Arkansas processes a considerable caseload each year, with the circuit courts receiving approximately 150,000 new cases annually and the district courts handling over 800,000 cases. Over the past three years, the circuit court has successfully disposed of over 80% of its cases, while the district court has achieved a disposition rate of over 90%. The following is a breakdown of the estimated number of cases filed in Arkansas courts every year according to government reports:

Civil Cases: Over 70,000 civil cases are filed with the circuit and district courts annually.
Criminal Cases: Over 250,000 criminal cases are filed in Arkansas every year. Most of these cases are misdemeanors.
Juvenile: There were 14,000 juvenile cases across the state's courts in 2022.
Domestic Relations: Around 42,00 domestic relations cases were heard in the state in 2021.
Traffic: Over 205,000 traffic offenses were filed across the state's municipal courts.

How Do I Look Up Court Cases in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, court records include both case and administrative documents. These records contain specific information about a court case or administrative order issued by any Arkansas court. They provide details about the parties involved, the judge, case filings, charges, dispositions, upcoming events, and judgments. The Court clerk maintains court records at the location where the case was filed. Interested persons can request these records by contacting or visiting the court clerk's office. Most record requests can be granted within a day, provided the requester meets the requirements. However, certain records, such as transcripts, may take longer to process. In Arkansas, transcripts are only accessible through formal requests. To access such records, individuals must contact the court clerk where the case was filed to learn about the requirements and procedures for obtaining them.

Most Arkansas court records are available on the statewide ARcourts portal maintained by the Arkansas Judicial Branch. The portal contains case information on circuit court cases across the state and some district court cases. You can search court records on the portal using the case information or participants' details.

You can also find Arkansas court records on third-party websites. When using these sites, you need to provide the name of the person involved (unless they are a juvenile) and the expected location of the record, such as a city, county, or state.

What Court Records Are Not Available to the Public in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, specific court records are restricted from public access by Arkansas Supreme Court administrative order 19. This limitation aims to protect the privacy of the involved parties. The restricted records primarily include the following:

Social Security numbers
specific asset and liability account numbers
credit card details
specific juvenile information