Appointed By: Gov. William Asa Hutchinson, II
Hon. Chalk S. Mitchell is a judge for the 1st Judicial Circuit Court of Arkansas. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Asa Hutchinson in 2015, filling the vacancy created by the passing of the Hon. L.T. Simes, II (deceased).
The 1st Judicial Circuit includes Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, St. Francis, and Woodruff Counties.
Prior to his appointment, his legal career included serving for sixteen years as an Assistant United States Attorney. During that time, he worked as a federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Arkansas (1980 to 1986) and was in Colorado for ten years. After returning to Arkansas, he managed his own private practice and also spent time as a City Attorney for Helena-West Helena and a prosecuting attorney.
Mitchell began his judicial career as a judge for the Phillips County District Court, a position to which he was appointed by former Governor Mike Huckabee in 2002. He remained in that capacity until 2004. Mitchell was also appointed to serve as a special associate justice for the Arkansas Supreme Court.
He received a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College in 1971. Mitchell went on to complete a J.D. at Georgetown Law School (1976) and an M.P.A. from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government (1978).
He was admitted to practice in Arkansas (1986), the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Colorado (1987), and Pennsylvania (1978).
Mitchell is a native of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas.
| Current Appointment 1st Judicial Circuit Court of Arkansas, Department Division 4, Box 177 | 1st Judicial Circuit Court of Arkansas, Department Division 4, Box 177 |
| Election/Appointment 2016 - Re-elected | 2016 - Re-elected |
| Previous Appointment Phillips County District Court | Phillips County District Court |
|
Education
M.P.A., Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government - 1978 J.D., Georgetown Law School - 1976 Bachelor's degree, Morehouse College - 1971 |
M.P.A., Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government - 1978 J.D., Georgetown Law School - 1976 Bachelor's degree, Morehouse College - 1971 |
| Current Court: | AR - 1st Judicial Circuit Court of Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Previous Court: | AR - Phillips County District Court |
| Clerk phone: | +1 (870) 338-5522 |
| Role | Employer | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Judge | 1st Judicial Circuit Court of Arkansas | Phillips County, Arkansas |
| Sole Practitioner | Private Practice | None |
| City Attorney | City of Helena-West Helena | Phillips County, Arkansas |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Office of the Prosecuting Attorney | None |
| Judge | Phillips County District Court | Phillips County, Arkansas |
| Assistant U.S. Attorney | United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado | Denver County, Colorado |
| Assistant U.S. Attorney | United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas | Pulaski County, Arkansas |
Ballotpedia: Chalk Mitchell
Martindale: Chalk Sanders Mitchell
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson: Governor Asa Hutchinson Appoints Chalk Mitchell as First Judicial Circuit Judge
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Judge Named to Finish Simes’ 1st Circuit Term
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