---
title: "Morgan \"Chip\" Welch | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/morgan-chip-welch-pulaski-county-district-court-state-district-court-ar"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Morgan "Chip" Welch

Arkansas State District Court, Judicial District 31 · District Judge

## Profile

- Court: Arkansas State District Court, Judicial District 31
- 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=16)
- [Official roster](https://arcourts.gov/directories/district-courts?page=16)
- [Arkansas Judiciary official judicial roster](https://arcourts.gov/directories/district-courts?page=16)
- [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

- Circuit Judge (2013–2025): Served in Arkansas State Circuit Court, District 6, Division 16, Subdistrict 6.2
- Justice Courtney Hudson dissented, arguing the language issue did not warrant removal
- District Judge for Pulaski County (also covering Perry County) under the Arkansas Judiciary’s 31st
- Morgan “Chip” Welch is the current District Judge for the 31st District (Pulaski County) of the Arkansas District Court, having served previously as a State Circuit Judge for 12 years

### Education


### Additional information

- In May 2024, the Arkansas Supreme Court removed Welch from a firearms-in-courthouse case after he referred to the court’s ruling as the “Lawyer/officer-of-the-court Carry Opinion” and used the acronym “LOCO” (Spanish for “crazy”).
- He has received multiple awards, including Trial Judge of the Year (2015) and Circuit Judge of the Year (2021, 2024) Pulaski County District Court.
- Welch has held leadership roles in the Arkansas Trial Lawyers’ Association (President, 1990–91) and the American Association for Justice (Board of Governors, 16 years) Pulaski County District Court.
- The Supreme Court cited potential violations of the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct regarding impartiality and public confidence in the judiciary.
- His official office is at 3001 West Roosevelt, Little Rock, AR, and he can be reached at 501‐340‐6832 Arkansas Judiciary.
- Other Legal Roles: Former Arkansas House of Delegates member, staff attorney for the Arkansas General Assembly, and legal intern for Pulaski County Legal Aid Bureau.
- Private Practice: Over 36 years as a trial lawyer, participating in more than 125 jury trials before taking the bench Pulaski County District Court.