Catherine Palmer Dean

Professional career

• The District Judge for Mississippi County (District 18) in Osceola, Arkansas, serving since 2016 and currently running for re‐election in 2024
• Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District, Arkansas, from 1995 to present
• The District Judge for District 18 and is set to serve until the end of 2028
• Former attorney at Trail & Dean Law Firm (2000–2016) and Gibson Law Firm (1995–2000)

Education

Additional information

• City Attorney for Osceola since 2016.
• Extensive experience in domestic relations, contracts, personal injury, guardianships, bankruptcies, real estate, and other matters before multiple Arkansas courts.
• Dean emphasizes fairness, integrity, and equal treatment for defendants with similar charges and histories, while recognizing case‐by‐case differences.
• Ensuring consistent sentencing for similar cases.
• Addressing child support enforcement disparities.
• Limiting the number of times a case is reviewed before an initial warrant affidavit.
• Dean presides over the Mississippi County District Court in Osceola, Arkansas, covering a jurisdiction that includes Osceola and parts of Burdette, Luxora, Victoria, Etowah, Keiser, Driver, Marie, Wilson, Bassett, Joiner, Dyess, Frenchman’s Bayou, Whitton, Denwood, and Birdsong.
• Founding member of the Mississippi County Drug Court team and contributor to the Mental Health Court initiative.