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Judicial Elections
Arkansas Supreme Court Elections 2026
Arkansas Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 8-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Arkansas?
- Highest court
- Arkansas Supreme Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Nonpartisan election
- Voters
- Voters elect justices
- Term
- 8 years
- To serve again
- Run for re-election
- 2026 ballot
- 2 seats, decided Mar 3, 2026
How Arkansas chooses its judges
Arkansas Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 8-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Arkansas Supreme Court.
- Term: 8 years.
- To serve again: Run for re-election.
- Other courts: All courts use nonpartisan elections.
Judicial races are held with the spring primary; a race with no majority winner goes to a November runoff.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Arkansas Supreme Court elections in 2026
Arkansas decided its 2 seats on March 3, 2026, so no Arkansas Supreme Court race is on the November ballot.
Position 3
Decided- Nicholas Bronni (winner)IncumbentWon
- John Adams
Position 6
Decided- Cody Hiland (winner)IncumbentWon
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Party labels are not shown because they do not appear on the ballot.
How to research judges on your Arkansas ballot
- Your sample ballot: Arkansas’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Arkansas — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Arkansas
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Arkansas’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Arkansas’s senators: Tom Cotton (Republican) and John Boozman (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
District judges for courts in Arkansas and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in Arkansas as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Arkansas?
Arkansas Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 8-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats. All courts use nonpartisan elections.
How long is a term on the Arkansas Supreme Court?
8 years. At the end of a term, they must run again to keep their seats.
Who is running for the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2026?
Arkansas's 2 seats were decided on March 3, 2026: Nicholas Bronni, Cody Hiland.
How do I research judges on my Arkansas ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/ lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Arkansas?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Arkansas's senators, Tom Cotton and John Boozman, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 2 judges tied to Arkansas by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Arkansas
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Arkansas Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
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