---
title: "Melinda French | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melinda-french-desha-county-district-court-state-district-court-ar"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Melinda French

Arkansas State District Court, Judicial District 27 · District Judge

## Profile

- Court: Arkansas State District Court, Judicial District 27
- State: Arkansas
- Role: District Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-29

## 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/district-courts?page=6)
- [Official roster](https://arcourts.gov/directories/district-courts?page=6)
- [Arkansas Judiciary official judicial roster](https://arcourts.gov/directories/district-courts?page=6)
- [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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- District Judge for the Chicot County District Court in the Dermott Department Arkansas Judiciary
- Melinda N. French is the elected District Judge for Chicot County, Arkansas, serving in the 27th State Judicial District and presiding over small claims, civil, criminal, and traffic cases in Desha County

### Education


### Additional information

- In January 2023, Judge French presided over the swearing‐in of the Desha County Sheriff’s Department staff, including Chief Deputy Jonathan Byrd and Sergeant Roland Brown.
- Civil claims (up to $25,000)
- City ordinance violations
- Elected official with a four-year term.
- Criminal misdemeanors
- Small claims (up to $5,000)