Doug Martin, who was appointed last year to a Washington County Circuit Court judgeship, announced Wednesday (July 17) he is running for an open seat on the court.
Gov. Mike Beebe appointed Martin to the Circuit Court Division 2 judgeship in November 2012 at the retirement of Judge Kim Smith. An appointee cannot seek election to an appointed judicial position but can run for a different post.
The 4th Judicial Circuit, covering Washington and Madison counties, has two judge positions opening up, including Martin’s current appointed position and one created this month when Division 1 Circuit Judge Bill Storey declared he is running for the Fayetteville District Court seat. The District Court seat became open with the death in April of Rudy Moore Jr.
Martin announced he is running for the Circuit Court Division 1 seat currently held by the departing Storey.
Meanwhile, John Threet, the prosecuting attorney in Washington and Madison counties, previously told 5NEWS he is running for one of the open Circuit Court judgeship in the 2014 election.
On Wednesday, Threet said he is seeking the Division 2 seat.
Today’s announcements mean Martin and Threet will not be running against each other, since they are vying for judge positions in different Circuit Court districts.
No other candidates have formally announced in either district.
In a news release announcing his candidacy, Martin said he has presided over more than 2,000 cases as a Circuit judge in civil, criminal, family and probate matters. As an Arkansas Court of Appeals judge from 2011 through 2012, he wrote more than 100 published opinions, the news release states.
“The job of circuit job requires thorough application of the law with common sense and thoughtful fairness,” Martin said in the news release.
Martin said he is an “advocate for children and families in crisis,” noting he and his wife, Amy, have served as foster parents. They are also the parents of three children.
“Seeing families come before the court that are in absolute crisis is a reminder each day of the direct impact a Circuit Court has on the litigants and the people of this community,” Martin said. “Amy and I became foster parents because we could no longer stand on the sidelines and watch as our community’s children’s lives were damaged. The experience certainly made me a better person and a better father. I ask for the support of the voters of Washington and Madison counties to allow me the opportunity to continue to work for the children of our community.”
Martin is a graduate of Fayetteville High School, the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas School of Law.
The judicial elections are set to be held in May 2014.
With Threet not seeking re-election to a third four-year term as prosecuting attorney, his chief deputy, Matt Durrett, told 5NEWS he will run for the prosecuting attorney post.
