---
title: "Joe Short | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joe-short-circuit-judge-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-division-1-ar"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Joe Short

Eighth North Judicial Circuit · Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: Eighth North Judicial Circuit
- State: Arkansas
- Role: Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### remote hearing platform

Scope: statewide

Arkansas Judiciary publishes electronic-hearing Zoom resources and court-user guides for remote proceedings.

Evidence excerpt: Zoom Guides for Court Users

[Arkansas Judiciary: Electronic Hearings With Zoom](https://arcourts.gov/arkansas-supreme-court-statement-novel-coronavirus-outbreak-and-courts/electronic-hearings-zoom)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### audio recording

Scope: statewide

Arkansas Judiciary publishes state-district-court digital audio recording guidance as an official court resource.

Evidence excerpt: AOC Provisional Guidelines for Digital Audio Recording in State District Courts

[Arkansas Judiciary: District Courts](https://arcourts.gov/courts/district-courts)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://arcourts.gov/directories/circuit-judges)
- [Official roster](https://arcourts.gov/directories/circuit-judges)
- [Arkansas Judiciary official judicial roster](https://arcourts.gov/directories/circuit-judges)
- [Arkansas Judiciary: Electronic Hearings With Zoom](https://arcourts.gov/arkansas-supreme-court-statement-novel-coronavirus-outbreak-and-courts/electronic-hearings-zoom)
- [Arkansas Judiciary: District Courts](https://arcourts.gov/courts/district-courts)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joe-short-circuit-judge-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-division-1-ar",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joe-short-circuit-judge-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-division-1-ar",
      "name": "Joe Short | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Joe Short, Eighth North Judicial Circuit. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joe-short-circuit-judge-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-division-1-ar#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joe-short-circuit-judge-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-division-1-ar#judge",
      "name": "Joe Short",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joe-short-circuit-judge-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-division-1-ar",
      "jobTitle": "Circuit Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Eighth North Judicial Circuit"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://arcourts.gov/directories/circuit-judges"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Arkansas",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/arkansas"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Joe Short",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joe-short-circuit-judge-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-eighth-north-judicial-circuit-division-1-ar"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Joe C. Short is a judge of the 8th North Judicial Circuit Court in Arkansas, serving Hempstead and Nevada counties since 2020, with a 42‐year legal career in private practice, public service, and prosecution
- Partner at Wilson, Walker & Short for 42 years
- Judge, Division 1, 8th North Judicial Circuit Court, Arkansas
- Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Hempstead County and Lafayette County
- In his own words, Short described the shift from advocating for clients to “calling the balls and strikes” in cases, balancing prosecution and defense experience to deliver justice

### Education

- University of Arkansas School of Law — J.D. (1975)
- in Business Administration, University of Arkansas — B.S. (1972)
- He enjoys hunting, fishing, and watching University of Arkansas “Razorback” sports

### Additional information

- Elected: 2020; sworn in January 1, 2021
- Admitted to the Arkansas Bar (1975) and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas (1976)
- City Attorney for the City of Lewisville and the City of Hope
- He began his legal career in Hope, Arkansas, working with then‐State Representative Larry Patterson
- Short resides in Hope, AR, with his wife Sally and two children