There’s a new judge in Alexander

(UPDATED, paragraphs two and three: Aug. 2, 2019)

The City of Alexander has a new judge. District Court Judge Josh Newton recently took over the cases tried in Saline County District Court, Alexander Department. He replaces Judge Stephanie Casady who is now permanently assigned to the Bryant court. Until now the judge serving in Bryant also covered the cases in Alexander.

His appointment to the Alexander court followed his appointment as a State District Court Judge. According to an article on MySaline.com Josh Newton, of Bryant, was appointed in May State District Court Judge for the 32nd District by Governor Asa Hutchinson. Newton’s term began July 1, 2019, and expires December 31, 2020. He replaces Judge Mike Robinson, who retired.

This will cause a change in the court schedule at Alexander. According to Accounting Department Office Manager and City Treasurer JoAn Churchill sometime later this year the day for court hearings will move from Mondays to Thursdays. “Better for him and better for us,” she said.

In the same MySaline.com article a bio of Judge Newton is provided. “Since 2015, Josh Newton has served as the primary attorney for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. From 2009 to 2015, Mr. Newton served in the Office of General Counsel in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has clerked for 8th Circuit Judge Lavenski R. Smith and federal bankruptcy Judge Margaret A. Mahoney. He is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas School of Law. Newton volunteers for Project Zero, a non-profit for the benefit of foster children; the prison ministry Angel Tree; and as a coach of youth sports in Saline County. He and his wife, Shannon, have two children, Nash and Nyla.”

At the city’s July 15 meeting council members approved removing Judge Stephanie Casady from the court accounts at First Security Bank and replacing her name with Judge Newton. The accounts include Court Automation, Bond & Fine and Administration of Justice. Mayor Paul Mitchell was unable to provide a reason for the change in judges.

In other business:

The only other action item on the agenda involved amending an annexation ordinance passed in April. The annexation involved a 1.73-acre parcel added to the southwest corner of the property belonging to Ample Storage, located along Highway 5. Mayor Mitchell said the legal description of the parcel had an error that placed it in Bryant instead of on the edge of Alexander.

Unfortunately there were only five council members present, which meant the mayor could only conduct the first of three public readings. In order for the amended ordinance to take effect immediately it requires two-thirds, in Alexander’s case six, council members to override the three public readings requirement and invoke an emergency clause. If there are six council members present at the August meeting it should be able to go into effect then.

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, August 19 at 6 PM in the courtroom in city hall. The public is invited to attend.