Cathleen Compton at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Arkansas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Cathleen Compton
Circuit Judge · Sixth Judicial Circuit
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Compton announced her upcoming retirement at the end of her term, prompting candidates such as Jesse Gibson and Robert Tellez to run for her seat in the 6th Judicial District, Division 3
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and completed her J.D. at the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1985.
Additional information
- Notably, she ruled in January 2026 that a candidate for the Arkansas House could remain on the Republican primary ballot after a bond forfeiture, determining that the candidate had not been convicted of a crime.
- Elected to the 6th Judicial Circuit Court in 2014 and took office in January 2015
- Compton was admitted to practice law in Arkansas in 1985 and in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.
- During her tenure on the bench, Judge Compton has presided over a variety of civil and criminal cases.
- Before her judicial career, she spent nearly 30 years in private practice and also held the role of an assistant attorney general with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.
- She also ruled on eligibility issues for other candidates, demonstrating her role in interpreting election law and ensuring compliance with state statutes.
- overseeing Pulaski and Perry Counties.
- Her retirement marks the conclusion of over a decade of service on the circuit bench.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Statewide
Arkansas Judiciary publishes electronic-hearing Zoom resources and court-user guides for remote proceedings.
Zoom Guides for Court UsersArkansas Judiciary: Electronic Hearings With Zoom ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Arkansas Judiciary publishes state-district-court digital audio recording guidance as an official court resource.
AOC Provisional Guidelines for Digital Audio Recording in State District CourtsArkansas Judiciary: District Courts ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Arkansas Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Arkansas Judiciary official judicial roster ↗Arkansas Judiciary: Electronic Hearings With Zoom
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Arkansas Judiciary: Electronic Hearings With Zoom ↗Arkansas Judiciary: District Courts
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Arkansas Judiciary: District Courts ↗