Miller County covers a total land area of 624 square miles in the southwestern part of Arkansas. Its county seat is Texarkana. Miller County was named after the Arkansas Territory's first governor, James Miller, in 1820. About 42,000 persons live in Miller County.

Courts in Miller County

Miller County has a Circuit Court within the Eighth South Judicial Circuit. The trial court of general has three divisions presided by different judges: Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3. As the county’s highest court, the Circuit Court judges have general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil lawsuits beyond other lower courts. Criminal proceedings that occur in the Circuit Court include felony and misdemeanor trials. Civil equity claims in Miller County fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. Other legal proceedings that typically occur include child abuse cases, divorces, civil commitments, juvenile matters, and all civil claims involving more than $25,000 in financial disputes.

There are two District Courts in Miller County. Both courts usually preside over some misdemeanor criminal trials, traffic offenses, local ordinance violations, and pretrial hearings. Miller’s District Courts also handles all civil disputes involving less than $100 financial settlements. Residents may approach the Local District Court to resolve civil lawsuits in which the monetary disagreements are between $100 and $5,000. The State District Court is tasked with handling civil claims between $100 and $25,000. Involved parties may appeal decisions of District Courts at the Miller County Circuit Courts.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Miller County

The Circuit Court Clerk maintains and disseminates public court records in Miller County. Court records accessible for public viewing comprise one or more of the following information:

• Transcripts
• Calendars and dockets
• Names of plaintiffs, defendants, prosecutors, attorneys, and other involved parties’ names
• Evidence and exhibits
• Plea deals
• Case filings
• Warrants and  injunctions
• Court verdicts

Interested parties can obtain these records by sending emails, calling, or visiting the Circuit Clerk. Note that probate court records in Miller County are available at the County Clerk’s office. The Arkansas Judiciary offers online access to court records created in the county. Record seekers can view documents on the statewide Case Search portal by providing case numbers or IDs.

Types of Public Court Records in Miller County

Court records accessible for public viewing, inspection, or copying include any of the following:

• Civil case files
• Criminal case files
• Probate case files
• Traffic court records
• Limited family records, such as marriage licenses and divorce decrees
• Records showing small claims lawsuits

Confidential Court Records in Miller County

Miller County’s court clerks do not permit access to court records that are confidential under state and federal laws. Such records typically contain sensitive information that may harm individuals’ privacy. Examples of confidential court records in Miller County include the following:

• Court records sealed by court orders
• Medical records
• Mental health records
• Court documents for ongoing investigations
• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Trade secrets

All personal identifying information, such as social security numbers and banking details, is removed from public court records. Requestors can file court motions to view confidential court records in Miller County.

Juvenile Delinquency in Miller, AR

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Miller County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Arkansas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 207 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Miller County. Of that total, 39% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 81 court cases. Another 22% were dependency cases that accounted for 46 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Miller County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Miller County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Miller County, AR

https://arkansas.gov/

County Seat:	Texarkana
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1862
Total Square Miles:	638
2019 Population:	43,984
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01
County Contact:	400 Laurel St County Courthouse Texarkana , AR 71854-5249 http://www.millercountyar.org/

Miller County, AR Courts