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The Arkansas Public Defender Commission has been authorized by the Legislative Council to create six new positions in the 6th Judicial District with a total projected cost of more than $760,000. The action is the result of changes in the district's administrative plan approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court under which an additional circuit judge will begin hearing criminal cases in Pulaski County, starting next year.

The Arkansas Public Defender Commission has been authorized by the Legislative Council to create six new positions in the 6th Judicial District with a total projected cost of more than $760,000. The action is the result of changes in the district's administrative plan approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court under which an additional circuit judge will begin hearing criminal cases in Pulaski County, starting next year.

FAYETTEVILLE -- A federal lawsuit against a district judge in Benton County for failing to appoint lawyers for defendants at first appearance hearings should not be granted class action status, according to a response from public defenders Monday.

Marshall Ray Price was beaten inside a county jail in northeast Arkansas. A year later, no one has been charged in his death.

Maurice Taggart was suspended from his job as a public defender for missing a court date and later terminated after an investigation was conducted, according to public documents.