Judge Carlton Jones to seek Supreme Court seat

Circuit Judge Carlton D. Jones of Texarkana announced Thursday (Sept. 14) his candidacy for Position 2 of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Jones is currently in his second elected term as a Circuit Court Judge of the 8th Judicial Circuit- South, having initially been elected in 2014.

Justice Courtney Hudson previously announced her intention to seek Position 2 on the court, the seat once held by the late Justice Robin Wynne.

Justice Cody Hiland, who was appointed by Gov. Sarah Sanders after Wynne’s death, has the job now but is prohibited from seeking election to the term.

The elected term will be from Jan.1, 2025, through Dec.31, 2030.

Jones is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas School of Law. He served as a deputy prosecuting attorney before his election in 2010 to the position of prosecuting attorney for the 8th Judicial Circuit-South. Jones served four years as the elected prosecuting attorney before following Judge Joe E. Griffin to the First Division bench.

Since his election, Jones has served on numerous judicial committees. Jones serves on three Supreme Court committees – Arkansas Access to Justice Commission, Model Jury Instructions Committee, and as the current Chair of the Criminal Practice Committee.

Jones has been married to his wife, Beverly, for 34 years and is a lifetime resident of Texarkana.