§ 16-17-1105 - Consolidation of city courts with district courts.
16-17-1105. Consolidation of city courts with district courts.
(a) The city courts located in the following cities or towns shall be consolidated with district courts:
(1) Alexander;
(2) Alpena;
(3) Atkins;
(4) Barling;
(5) Bauxite;
(6) Bethel Heights;
(7) Briarcliff;
(8) Cave Springs;
(9) Centerton;
(10) Central City;
(11) Concord;
(12) Cotter;
(13) Dell;
(14) Dover;
(15) Gassville;
(16) Gosnell;
(17) Gravette;
(18) Greers Ferry;
(19) Haskell;
(20) Hughes;
(21) Lakeview;
(22) Leachville;
(23) Little Flock;
(24) London;
(25) Lowell;
(26) Madison;
(27) Manila;
(28) Marmaduke;
(29) Norfork;
(30) Palestine;
(31) Pea Ridge;
(32) Pottsville;
(33) Quitman;
(34) Salesville;
(35) Shannon Hills;
(36) Sulphur Springs;
(37) Weiner; and
(38) Widner.
(b) Each city court under subsection (a) of this section:
(1) Is consolidated with the pilot state district court having jurisdiction over the geographical area of the abolished city court;
(2) Shall continue to exist as a department of that pilot state district court unless abolished by town or city ordinance; and
(3) Is redesignated as the "___________________ District Court, ___________________ Department".
(c) Under the Arkansas District Courts and City Courts Accounting Law, 16-10-201 et seq., each department of a pilot state district court shall maintain a docket and set court dates for hearing that docket in the town or city unless the district court and the town or city in which the department is located agree otherwise.
(d) (1) A town or city that operated a city court prior to January 1, 2008, and became a department of a pilot state district court under this subchapter may abolish that department by ordinance.
(2) The clerk of the town or city shall send a copy of the ordinance issued under subdivision (d)(1) of this section to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
(3) After a department has been abolished under subdivision (d)(1) of this section:
(A) The nearest district court in the county shall exercise jurisdiction over the geographical area of that abolished department;
(B) The abolished city court shall transfer all its papers and records to the court described in subdivision (d)(3)(A) of this section; and
(C) (i) All of the following existing on January 1, 2008, shall continue unaffected unless otherwise affected by this subchapter:
(a) Actions;
(b) Appeals;
(c) Causes of action;
(d) Civil proceedings;
(e) Criminal proceedings;
(f) Decrees;
(g) Judgments;
(h) Liabilities;
(i) Orders;
(j) Prosecutions;
(k) Regulations;
(l) Sentences;
(m) Suits; and
(n) Writs.
(ii) A suit or prosecution of any kind or nature shall not abate as a result of this subchapter.
(4) A town or city may not reinstate a department of district court that has been abolished under subdivision (d)(1) of this section.