MonticelloLive

Sara M. Hartness, candidate for judge of the 10th Judicial District, Division 2, along with her husband, Steve, and two sons, Max and Michael Sawyer, drove over 1,000 signatures on a petition to place her name on the May 20, 2008 primary ballot in Little Rock to the Secretary of State’s Office last week.

Hartness announced in early December she would be a candidate for circuit judge and she, her family and supporters immediately got busy collecting signatures on petitions allowing the Secretary of State to waive the over $5,200 filing fee to place her name on the ballot.  Hartness has received written confirmation from the Secretary of State’s office that the petitions have been verified her name will appear on the May ballot as a candidate for 10th Judicial District judgeship

“I appreciate the help of everyone who collected signatures for me,” Ms. Hartness, a practicing attorney in Monticello since February, 1989, said.  Hartness has 26 years of legal experience and has litigated a wide variety of cases both in the State and Federal courts.  The primary focus, however, of her practice has been in the field of Domestic Relations/Family Law.

Hartness is seeking a position on the bench held for 20 years by Hon. Judge Robert Vittitow who is retiring.  “I decided to run for the position because I feel strongly that both the litigants and their attorneys need a well-qualified judge on the bench who will fairly and consistently rule on the cases brought before the court,” Ms. Hartness said this week.

Concerned about the effect divorces have on families, especially the children, Ms. Hartness said, “I intend to work very hard to allow people speedy access to the Court and to issue consistent rulings that, hopefully, will lessen some of the stress regularly experienced in divorces.”

Ms. Hartness is a member of the American Bar Association, Arkansas Bar Association, past president of the Southeast Arkansas Legal Institute, and has been a volunteer lawyer for the Arkansas Volunteer Lawyers for the Elderly since opening her office.  She is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in and effecting Arkansas, and is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Hartness and her husband, Steve, have four children and two grandchildren.  Ms. Hartness attends St. Marks Catholic Church where she is a lay lector and works with children’s liturgy.  Her husband, Steve, is a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Monticello.

The election for this non-partisan judicial office will take place Tuesday, May 20.