Rob Ratton of Newport has been appointed Circuit Judge of the Third Judicial District, Division 3, by Governor Asa Hutchinson. He announced the appointment on January 2nd.
Ratton has served as Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the Third Judicial District since 2003, and recently filed for election to Division 1. He is unopposed on the ballot, and will be elected on March 3rd.
“I ran for Third District Circuit Judge because I wanted to put my years of experience to work for the people of the Third Judicial District,†Ratton said. “It’s an honor to be appointed by Governor Hutchinson. I am eager to get to work, and I know I will make him and the people of northeast Arkansas proud,†Ratton continued.
The Third Judicial District covers Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph and Sharp counties.
Ratton earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He began his legal career with the Newport law firm of Thaxton, Hout and Howard where he maintained a general practice of law, including criminal defense, business law, real estate law, estate planning and domestic relations. In addition to serving as a prosecuting attorney, Ratton also served as Newport City Attorney until his appointment.
Ratton is a member of the Jackson County Bar Association, First United Methodist Church of Newport and a member and past-president of the Newport Rotary Club. He has been a member of the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Arkansas City Attorneys Association and also served on the Board of Directors of Legal Services of Northeast Arkansas. Ratton and his wife Heather, originally from Walnut Ridge, have 5 children and live in Newport.
Ratton was appointed to serve the remainder of the term left vacant after the death of Judge Tom Garner in November.