Judge Bart F. Virden of Morrilton has announced he plans to run for re-election to the Arkansas Court of Appeals in 2026.
Virden, 65, serves in District 2, Position 1 and has been on the court since 2015. The district covers Baxter, Boone, Cleburne, Conway, Fulton, Faulkner, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Marion, Newton, Pope, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, and Van Buren counties.
“I have really enjoyed serving on the Arkansas Court of Appeals,” Virden said in a statement. “Our court resolved 1,159 cases last year. It is a challenge, but it is rewarding to serve the people of Arkansas.”
The Arkansas Court of Appeals has 12 judges, each elected to eight-year terms. The chief judge earns about $212,000 per year, while other judges earn just over $209,000.
Virden was first elected in 2014 without opposition. He had previously served as Conway County district judge, deputy prosecutor, and Morrilton city attorney. He also worked as a partner in a local law firm.
He earned a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas in 1982 and a law degree from the same school in 1985. He is married and has three adult children.
Judicial candidates can file by petition from September 11 through 18, 2025, or by paying a fee between November 3 through 11, 2025. The general election is March 3, 2026, with a runoff, if needed, on November 3, 2026.
In District 3, Judge Robert J. Gladwin of Fayetteville will not run again. He has served since 2003 and plans to step down at the end of 2026.
Brandon Carter, the prosecuting attorney for Washington and Madison counties, and Judge Sarah Capp of the 7th Judicial District have announced plans to run for his seat.
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