---
title: "Tom Cooper | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tom-cooper-circuit-judge-ninth-west-judicial-circuit-ninth-west-judicial-circuit-division-1-ar"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Tom Cooper

Ninth West Judicial Circuit · Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: Ninth West 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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge of the 9th West Judicial Circuit Court of Arkansas, serving Division 1 in Ashdown, AR, and has been on the bench since 2008
- Prior role: Prosecuting Attorney for the 9th West Judicial Circuit from 1995 until his election to the judgeship

### Education

- J.D., University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law, 1987

### Additional information

- Elected to the bench: 2008; re‐elected in 2014
- Admitted to practice: Arkansas, 1988
- Before becoming a judge, Cooper built a career as a prosecutor in his judicial circuit
- His legal training and prosecutorial experience have informed his judicial work in the 9th West Judicial Circuit