State Supreme Court Seats on Ballot

RISON - Voters will find two contested and one uncontested on the ballot when they head to the polls for the March 5 nonpartisan judicial election.There is a contested race for Associate Justice, Position 2, on the Arkansas Supreme Court between Judge Carlton D. Jones, and State Supreme Court Judge Courtney Hudson.There is an uncontested race for Associate Justice, Position 5, on the Arkansas Supreme Court with Supreme Court Justice Shawn A. Womack the only candidate to file for the seat.There is a four-way race to replace Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, who is not seeking reelection. The four candidates running for Chief Justice, Position 1, are Justice Barbara Womack Webb, Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker, Jay Martin, and Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood.Here is a look at the background of each of the candidates running: Associate Justice, Position 2 Carlton Jones of Texarkana is Eighth South Judicial Circuit Judge covering Lafayette and Miller counties.On his campaign website, he describes himself as a Christian, husband, and father. He serves as a Trustee at Lonoke Baptist Church in Texarkana, has been married to Beverly for 34 years. They are parents to Bianca and Cory.Jones is a graduate of Texarkana (Ark.) High School and the University of Arkansas. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law and has practiced law for 35 years. He joined the Theta Upsilon chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in 1992.Prior to his election to the bench, Jones served as a prosecutor for more than two decades. He was a deputy prosecuting attorney for 20 years and was elected prosecuting attorney for Lafayette and Miller counties in 2010. Jones was elected as Circuit Court Judge in 2014.Jones has served on numerous boards, commissions and educational panels. He is a board member of the Arkansas Sentencing Commission, secretary of the Arkansas Supreme Court "A...