This bill proposes the addition of a second judgeship to the Seventeenth District of the State District Court System, which encompasses Clay and Greene counties. The current law, which states that the district is served by one judge, will be amended to reflect that it will now be served by two judges. The judges will be elected districtwide, and the bill outlines the specific locations of the five departments within the district.

Furthermore, the bill details the salary and benefits structure for the new judgeship. It stipulates that the state will cover the salary and benefits, with funding divided among the City of Paragould, Greene County, and Clay County. The City of Paragould and Greene County will each pay half of 75% of the salary and benefits, while Clay County will contribute 25%. The new judgeship is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and will be included on the ballot for the 2026 nonpartisan judicial election.

Statutes affected:
HB 1978: 16-17-1113(i)