TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL JUDGESHIP TO THE SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT OF THE STATE DISTRICT COURT SYSTEM.

HB 1978 proposed to add an additional state district court judgeship to the Seventeenth District, which encompasses Clay and Greene counties. This would have increased the number of judges serving that district from one to two. The bill outlined that the new judgeship would become effective on January 1, 2027, with an election planned for 2026. The salary and benefits for this additional judge would have been funded jointly by the City of Paragould, Greene County, and Clay County.