Conrad Odom announces candidacy for newly created juvenile judge position
by July 16, 2019 3:57 pm 2,867 views
Fayetteville attorney Conrad Odom announced his candidacy Tuesday (July 16) for Circuit Court Judge of the new 8th Division of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, serving both Washington and Madison counties.
Odom, 53, is the third Fayetteville lawyer to announce a campaign for the new judgeship, joining Tim Snively and Brian Hogue. State legislators created the new position because of the population growth in the district. The Fourth Judicial Circuit now has seven circuit judges.
A nonpartisan election for the eighth judgeship is scheduled for March 3, 2020. The winner of the election will take office on January 1, 2021.
“We understand this position was largely created in response to our population growth and to help alleviate the increased number of juvenile cases filling our court system,” Odom said in a statement. “This position will be a welcome relief to alleviate a tough and demanding juvenile justice docket where Judge Stacey Zimmerman has been putting in long hours and working very hard to help so many families.
“I believe a good juvenile judge can work with teachers and schools to keep children safe and in school in addition to making sure first time offenders are given a second chance at getting their lives back on the right track.”
Odom has experience mentoring juveniles in several civic organizations, according to a news release. He has served as Den Leader and Cubmaster of Pack 46 in Fayetteville and is currently Scoutmaster of Troup 102 and finance chair of the Razorback District Committee of the Boy Scouts of America. He has practiced law in Northwest Arkansas for 27 years with the Odom Law Firm, started by his father, Bobby Lee Odom, in 1982.
A certified mediator, Odom has served as chairman of the boards of the Fayetteville Boys & Girls Club and the Fayetteville Education Foundation. He also served on the Fayetteville School Board and the Fayetteville City Council.
He and his wife Laura have been married for 30 years and have three children who all attend or are currently attending Fayetteville Public Schools.