Court records of Pulaski County, Arkansas, are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. PulaskiARCourt.us is a convenient resource to start searching for publicly available information on county court cases. Additionally, you can use the Search ARCourts portal, contact the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's office, or visit the office in person.
Pulaski Court System Overview
Pulaski County is part of the 6th Judicial District of Arkansas. It is the most populous county in the state, and its court system handles a significant volume of cases. The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction that hears criminal, civil, family, probate, and other types of cases.
Pulaski County has two Circuit Court divisions — one in Little Rock and the other in North Little Rock. The court operates under the leadership of the county's administrative judge. In addition to the Circuit Court, residents are served by the District Court for less serious cases and several municipal courts.
Courts Serving Pulaski
Residents of the county have access to several courts of varying levels of jurisdiction:
Pulaski County Circuit Court (6th Judicial District)
Pulaski County District Court — Little Rock Division
Pulaski County District Court — North Little Rock Division
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
Additionally, municipal courts in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Maumelle, and Sherwood handle city ordinance violations and minor offenses within the county.
What Types of Cases Pulaski Courts Hear
Pulaski County courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, DUI
- Civil lawsuits: claims of any amount, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, protective orders, paternity
- Probate cases: estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases: juvenile offenses, child protection, adoption
- Infractions and minor violations
District Court Cases in Pulaski
The District Court in Pulaski County handles misdemeanors, minor civil disputes, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. This is where most residents first encounter the court system — when receiving a speeding ticket or being summoned for a minor offense.
If a case involves a felony, the District Court conducts a preliminary hearing before transferring the case to the Circuit Court. Civil claims with a small amount in dispute also begin here. A District Court judge is assigned to a specific division — Little Rock or North Little Rock.
Magistrate Court Cases in Pulaski
In Arkansas, the functions performed by magistrate courts in other states are handled by the District Court. District judges hear:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil cases with claims up to $25,000
- Small claims with amounts up to $5,000
- Traffic violations
- DUI cases — from the first hearing to sentencing
To file a small claim, the applicant must complete the appropriate form and pay a court fee at the District Court clerk's office. Cases are assigned to judges based on division and type.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Pulaski
Family Law. The Pulaski County Circuit Court hears cases involving divorce, child custody, child support, protective orders, paternity, and termination of parental rights. Divorce applications can be filed through the Circuit Clerk's office. Cases are assigned to judges in the family law division.
Probate Cases. The Probate Division of the Circuit Court handles the administration of deceased estates, appointment of guardians and conservators, and trust matters. Official probate forms are available on the Arkansas Judiciary website. For small estates, a simplified affidavit can be filed.
Juvenile Cases. The Juvenile Division of the Circuit Court hears juvenile offenses and child protection cases. Records in these cases are confidential under Arkansas law. A separate Juvenile Court Services department coordinates work with minors.
How Cases Move Through the Pulaski Court System
- Case Initiation: a criminal complaint, civil lawsuit, or petition is filed with the appropriate court clerk's office.
- Judge Assignment: the clerk's office assigns the case to a specific judge according to a set rotation.
- First Hearing: in criminal cases — arraignment; in civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pre-trial Phase: parties file motions, conduct discovery, negotiate plea deals or settlements.
- Case Resolution: jury trial or judge trial, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Resolution: sentencing in criminal cases, appeal to the Court of Appeals, enforcement of judgment in civil cases.
The duration depends on complexity. Minor violations may be resolved in a single session, while felonies can take months.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Pulaski
The administrative judge of the 6th Judicial District coordinates the work of the Circuit Court in Pulaski County. Day-to-day management is provided by the trial court administrator.
Local court rules and general procedural norms can be found on the Arkansas Judiciary portal. County administrative orders are also published there.
Public Access to Records. Under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), most court documents are public. Criminal, civil, probate, and divorce cases are all available for search. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed cases, and certain documents protected by court order.
Attending Hearings. Most hearings are open to the public. In some cases, the court allows remote participation via video link — check with the specific division's clerk's office.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Pulaski
- Online Case Search: the Search ARCourts portal allows searching for cases by party name, case number, and other criteria. Free access.
- County Records and Certified Copies: the County Records department of the Circuit Clerk issues official documents with a seal, often requested by government agencies.
- Court Forms: the Arkansas Judiciary form library contains templates for civil, family, probate, and criminal cases.
- Inmate Roster: the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office publishes a current list of inmates and other public data.
- Arkansas Department of Correction Inmate Search: the ADC website provides a search for individuals serving sentences in state correctional facilities.
- Arkansas Sex Offender Registry: maintained by the Arkansas Crime Information Center and available online for public search.
- Payment of Fines and Fees: fines can be paid and payment information obtained through the Circuit Clerk's website.