Ark. 18th E. Jud. Cir. Admin. Plan (introduction)

ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN

FOR

EIGHTEENTH EAST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026

Pursuant to Administrative Order Number 14 of the Supreme Court of Arkansas, the

Judges of the Eighteenth East Judicial Circuit adopt the following administrative plan.

The Eighteenth East Judicial Circuit is composed of Garland County, Arkansas. The

circuit is served by four circuit judges; namely, Judge Ralph Ohm, Judge Cecilia Dyer, Judge

Lynn Williams and Judge Meredith Switzer.

The Forty-First Judicial District is composed of Garland County, Arkansas. The

district is served by two state district judges; namely, Judge Joseph Graham and Judge

Kara Petro.

CASE ASSIGNMENT AND ALLOCATION

This plan has been designed to facilitate the best use of available judicial and support

resources within the circuit so that cases will be resolved in an efficient and prompt manner.

DIVISION 1 - Judge Ralph Ohm

Case Type Percentage of Cases

Criminal 50%

Civil 30%

Domestic 0%

Probate 25%

Juvenile 0%

DIVISION 2 - Judge Cecilia Dyer

Case Type Percentage of Cases

Criminal 0%

Civil 0%

Domestic 65%

Probate 25%

Juvenile 100% FINS

I 00% Delinquency

DIVISION 3 -Judge Lynn Williams

Case Type Percentage of Cases

Criminal 0%

Civil 40%

Domestic 35%

Probate 25%

Juvenile I 00% Dependency Neglect

DIVISION 4 -Judge Meredith Switzer

Case Type Percentage of Cases

Criminal 50%

Civil 30%

Domestic 0%

Probate 25%

Juvenile 0%

CASELOAD ESTIMATES

Based upon prior year figures, the projected caseload for each division follows:

DIVISION 1 -Judge Ralph Ohm

Estimated

Case Type Number of Cases

Criminal 674

Civil 420

Domestic 101

Probate 758

Juvenile 5

1,958

*The circuit judges acknowledge that the Division I caseload appears to be in excess of

the normal caseload for the circuit. After review, it appears that many of these cases

should be dismissed and closed. Division I has instituted a plan to address this issue and

was able to reduce its caseload by 100 cases in May 2023. A continued reduction in the

caseload is anticipated.

DIVISION 2 - Judge Cecilia Dyer

Estimated

Case Type Number of Cases

Criminal 0

Civil 0

Domestic 549

Probate 481

Juvenile 208

1,238

DIVISION 3 – Judge Lynn Williams

Es t i m a t e d

Case Type Number of Cases

C r i m i n a l 0

C i v i l 3 1 7

D o m e s t i c 2 8 5

P r o b a t e 5 7 3

J u v e n i l e 9 6

1,271

DIVISION 4 – Judge Meredith Switzer

Es t i m a t e d

Case Type Number of Cases

C r i m i n a l 50 7

C i v i l 28 7

D o m e s t i c 4 9

P r o b a t e 66 7

J u v e n i l e 0

1,510

SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAMS

ADULT DRUG COURT - JUDGE RALPH OHM, PRESIDING