BENTONVILLE — Judge Xollie Duncan has announced she will seek re-election to the Benton County circuit judgeship.
Duncan handles domestic and civil cases in the Division 5 seat.
She was an attorney in Benton County for 21 years until she was appointed circuit judge for the 19th West Judicial District in 2000 by then-Gov. Mike Huckabee. Duncan has been elected to two additional terms since being appointed.
PROFILE
Xollie Duncan
Judge, 19th West Judicial District
(Incumbent)
Age 59
Residency: Hiwasse
Family: Married to retired Circuit Judge David Clinger
Employment: Benton County Circuit Judge
Education: Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas and law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law
Military Experience: None
Political Experience: Elected to two terms as Benton County Circuit Judge
Source: Staff Report
“Every day brings a different set of challenges,” Duncan said. “This docket presents families in distress, with emotions running high and ranging from anger to fear to sadness and grief. Family breakups create fear and emotional distress, especially for the children, and many times the breakups bring financial difficulties for all.”
Duncan said it is her job to tailor a legal solution to problems that are not just legal in nature.
“I cannot imagine a more challenging, yet rewarding, job,” Duncan said.
State Rep. Jonathan Barnett, R-Siloam Springs, described Duncan as a student of the law and a hard worker.
“The workload in Benton County is heavy,” Barnett said. “We need judges that will work and not have a backload of cases. Xollie is a hard worker and she takes her job very seriously.”
Duncan is a fair-minded person who has an excellent temperament for the bench, Barnett said.
“She’s not afraid to give someone advice whether they want or do not want to hear it,” Barnett said. “She’s not afraid to tell someone they need to get their life in order and they need to do the right thing.”
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., nominated Duncan as the Angel in Adoption for Arkansas for her contributions in the field of adoption. Boozman presented her with the award during a ceremony on Oct. 9, 2013, in Washington, D.C.
Duncan serves as chairwoman of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Board and the Arkansas Certified Court Reporter Licensing Board.
She also serves on the board of directors of the Arkansas Judicial Council, along with serving on the Trial Judges Section of the Arkansas Judicial Council and the Western Arkansas Trial Practice Committee.
Duncan always has been a very thoughtful judge and she conducts herself with the highest degree of professional competence, said Bentonville attorney Jerry Dossey.
“She stands for everything I believe a judge should stand for,” Dossey said. “I believe that is the opinion of the vast majority of attorneys that appear in her courtroom. I would support her re-election without any hesitation.”
Duncan is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and is a member and past president of the Benton County Bar Association. She has served as Special Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court and as Administrative Judge for the 19th West Judicial District.
She is married to retired Circuit Judge David Clinger.
The nonpartisan election is May 20, 2014.