Diane Warren announces bid for new Circuit Court judge’s seat
by August 20, 2019 4:09 pm 3,518 views
Fayetteville attorney Diane Warren has announced her candidacy for Circuit Court Judge of the new 8th Division of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, serving both Washington and Madison counties.
Warren is the fourth Fayetteville lawyer to announce a campaign for the new judgeship, joining Tim Snively, Brian Hogue and Conrad Odom. State legislators created the new position, which has been approved to hear juvenile and family cases, 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.
In a statement, Warren said her career in juvenile law and her vision for what the court can be make her the best candidate. She has over 20 years of experience in juvenile and family law, is a former Attorney ad Litem for the state and was named Attorney ad Litem of the Year by the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) organization.
“I have practiced juvenile and family law almost exclusively for 20 years,” Warren said. “In that time, I have witnessed the critical role courts play in shaping the future of children and families. Healthy families make healthy communities. As circuit court judge, I will put families first by helping young people make good choices and helping parents raise their children well. I will work to keep families together and, when that’s not possible, help create opportunities for them to stay connected and rebuild. That is best for all involved. When we prioritize and invest in families, our entire community wins.
Warren is chair-elect of the Juvenile Justice & Child Welfare Section of the Arkansas Bar Association, working with other attorneys from around the state to monitor trends in juvenile courts and help support juvenile law practitioners. She has also been selected to author the updated version of the Arkansas Bar Association’s Domestic Relations Handbook, a legal resource for Arkansas attorneys.
Warren serves on the Session of First United Presbyterian Church. She is also a board member for Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home for Children, Butterfield Trail Village Foundation and the Fayetteville Area Community Foundation. She is a member of Rotary International.