The 4th Judicial Circuit Court hears civil disputes and criminal felony cases arising in Washington and Madison counties. The court is divided into seven administrative divisions with one judge per division. Appeals of decisions generally go to either the Arkansas Court of Appeals if there are no questions of law and to the Arkansas Supreme Court if there are.
Divisions I, II, V, VI and VII of the circuit court handle felony-level criminal cases; civil lawsuits that exceed $25,000 in value; domestic cases such as divorce and custody; and probate cases such as wills, estates, guardianship or mental health civil commitment. As the trial court for the 4th Judicial District, it handles major legal disputes, jury trials, and equity cases.
Divisions III and XIII are responsible for adjudicating matters related to minors. Juvenile Court cases generally fall into one of three major categories: delinquency, families in need of services, and dependency or neglect.
Division IV is the 4th Circuit’s Drug Treatment Court. The court promotes public safety and quality of life within the community through the reduction of substance abuse and criminal behavior. The court assists individuals and their families through a process of recovery from substance-related disorders. One of its major goals is to reduce recurrence of substance abuse.