4 run in county's judicial elections

2 circuit judges face challengers

PINE BLUFF -- Two incumbent Jefferson County circuit judges face opponents in Tuesday's nonpartisan judicial general election.

Fifth Division Circuit Judge Jodi Dennis is being challenged by Benton attorney Luther Sutter, and 3rd Division Circuit Judge Bill Benton will face Pine Bluff attorney Mac Norton.

Dennis, 56, was elected in 2004 as the 2nd Division circuit judge in Jefferson County, making her the first female circuit judge in county history. She was elected to the 5th Division in 2006.

"It has been an honor and privilege to serve my community," Dennis said. "I have spent the last 10 years working and learning and studying to be a good, effective judge, and I think I've done a good job. I would like to continue that work."

In addition to her work as a judge, Dennis has served as a deputy prosecuting attorney and assistant public defender in Jefferson County.

Sutter, 46, who serves as the attorney for the Pine Bluff School District, was in depositions last week and unable to comment. Sutter previously has said he moved to Jefferson County to comply with the residence requirement so he could run for office.

He also has said he "will be a very compassionate judge," which is something he said we need more of in the judicial system.

In the 3rd Division race, Benton, 66, has served as a circuit judge since 2002 and said his experience makes him the most qualified candidate.

"I have over 18 years of combined judicial experience, and more than 11 years' experience as circuit judge," Benton said. "I have made decisions in over 16,000 cases as circuit judge and have a proven fairness, impartiality and integrity."

In addition to his judicial service, Benton was a deputy Jefferson County prosecuting attorney for 20 years and spent three decades as an attorney. He served seven years as a White Hall City Court judge.

Benton also served in the 39th Infantry Brigade in the Arkansas Army National Guard, where he worked in the judge advocate general unit.

Norton, Benton's opponent, has been an attorney in Pine Bluff for 35 years and is president of the Jefferson County Bar Association. He is a past president of the Trinity Episcopal School Board and serves as secretary on the board of directors for the Seabrook Family Christian Center.

He is also a past president of Fifty for the Future, an economic development organization in Pine Bluff.

Norton, 61, said he is running because he "understands the concerns of people who find themselves in circuit court" and will, if elected, be a judge who will "listen with compassion."

Norton added that he "has been in the trenches, practicing family law. ... I see the challenges people deal with daily, and I want to bring a new perspective to the circuit judge's office."

State Desk on 05/19/2014

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