Legislation designed to streamline the structure of the lower courts in Arkansas has been signed into law. ‘It passed on March 8 and was signed into law on March 29’ said State Rep. Steve Harrelson, D-Texarkana, house majority leader and judicial committee member. The bill creates a three-tiered judicial system with the appellate and supreme courts at the top, the circuit courts in the middle, and the district courts at the bottom. City courts which currently exist in some counties will be eliminated by 2013. The law will make all judges elected officials accountable to the voters ...

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