Eastern District of Arkansas Federal Court: Divisions, Rules and Prisons

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas is the federal trial court for 41 counties in central and eastern Arkansas. It has three divisions, based in Little Rock, Helena and Jonesboro (28 U.S.C. § 83(a)). Here is where the court sits, who prosecutes and defends cases there, and where its rules are published.

We handle federal cases nationwide.

Where does the court sit?

The district has three divisions, and court for each is held in one city (28 U.S.C. § 83(a)). The court's site lists these courthouses:

Central Division: Little Rock
Richard Sheppard Arnold U.S. Courthouse, 500 West Capitol Avenue. Covers Pulaski, Faulkner, Jefferson, Saline, White and 14 other counties.
Northern Division: Jonesboro
E.C. Gathings Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 615 South Main Street. Covers Craighead, Mississippi, Greene, Independence and 10 other counties.
Delta Division: Helena
Jacob Trieber Federal Building, 617 Walnut. Covers Arkansas, Chicot, Crittenden, Desha, Lee, Monroe, Phillips and St. Francis counties. The court's site says this office is unstaffed and inquiries go to Little Rock.

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Which appeals court covers it?

Appeals from this court go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (28 U.S.C. §§ 41, 1294(1)). Its decisions are binding on the federal judges in this district, so its precedent governs cases here (uscourts.gov, About the U.S. Courts of Appeals).

Our Eighth Circuit appeals guide covers deadlines and the court’s own rules for criminal appeals.

Who prosecutes and who defends?

Federal prosecutors here work for the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, part of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Anyone charged with a federal crime who can’t afford a lawyer can ask the court to appoint one (18 U.S.C. § 3006A). Here, appointed lawyers come from the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Arkansas, a Federal Public Defender office, or from a panel of private lawyers the court approves.

Where are the local rules and sentencing procedures?

Every federal court follows the national rules, such as the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, plus its own local rules. This court publishes them on its local rules page.

The Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas share one set of local rules, and it adds no presentence report deadlines of its own. The federal rule applies: the report goes to the defense at least 35 days before sentencing, and objections are due within 14 days (Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(e)(2), (f)). After sentencing, Local Rule 83.8 requires the U.S. Attorney's Office to give the sentencing judge copies of its communications with the Bureau of Prisons or the Probation Office about a person the court has sentenced to custody.

“The sentencing judge shall then determine whether such communications should also be transmitted to the defendant and/or his attorney.”
Local Rule 83.8

Is Brandon Sample admitted in this court?

Yes. Brandon Sample is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. He has also handled federal cases in courts across the country.

Which federal prisons are in this district?

Bureau of Prisons facilities in this district (bop.gov lists their judicial district as Eastern Arkansas):

FCI Forrest City Low
Low security, with a satellite camp. Forrest City, Arkansas. Part of FCC Forrest City.
FCI Forrest City Medium
Medium security. Forrest City, Arkansas. Part of FCC Forrest City.

A prison being in this district doesn’t mean someone sentenced here will go there. The Bureau of Prisons decides where each person serves their sentence (18 U.S.C. § 3621(b)).

What should you know about a federal case in this district?

The first hearing comes fast. After an arrest, the person goes before a magistrate judge without unnecessary delay for an initial appearance (Fed. R. Crim. P. 5(a)). The judge decides whether they stay in custody while the case goes on (18 U.S.C. § 3142).
Most felony cases start with an indictment. A grand jury decides in private whether to approve the charges (Fed. R. Crim. P. 6, 7).
The presentence report matters. A federal probation officer writes a report on the offense and the person’s life before sentencing, and the defense can object to mistakes in it (Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(c)–(f)). Check this court’s schedule above.
The judge decides the sentence. The judge must consider the Sentencing Guidelines and the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including the person’s history and background. Family and friends can write letters; there is no limit on the background information a judge may consider (18 U.S.C. § 3661).
The appeal clock is short. A defendant’s notice of appeal is usually due within 14 days after the judgment is entered (Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A)).
Prison phones and email are monitored. Don’t discuss the case on them (28 C.F.R. § 540.102).

How a federal criminal case works →

Questions about the Eastern District of Arkansas

Which courthouse will an Eastern District of Arkansas case be in?

It depends on the county. The Central Division, which includes Pulaski County, sits in Little Rock; the Northern Division, which includes Craighead County, sits in Jonesboro; and the Delta Division, which includes Phillips and St. Francis counties, sits in Helena (28 U.S.C. § 83(a)). The charging papers and the docket show the division.

Does this court have its own presentence report deadlines?

No. The local rules shared by the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas set none, so the federal rule applies. The probation officer gives the report to the defense at least 35 days before sentencing, and written objections are due within 14 days after receiving it (Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(e)(2), (f)(1)).

Is there a federal prison in the Eastern District of Arkansas?

Yes. bop.gov lists FCI Forrest City Low and FCI Forrest City Medium, both part of FCC Forrest City, in this district. Being sentenced here does not mean serving the sentence there. The Bureau of Prisons decides where each person goes (18 U.S.C. § 3621(b)).

Who represents people here who can't afford a lawyer?

The court can appoint a lawyer (18 U.S.C. § 3006A). In this district, appointed lawyers come from the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Arkansas or from a panel of private lawyers the court approves.

Where do appeals from this court go?

To the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (28 U.S.C. §§ 41, 1294(1)). A defendant's notice of appeal is usually due within 14 days after the judgment is entered (Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A)).

Sources

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Federal cases in the Eastern District of Arkansas