The Atwell Law Firm

07/31/2024

Another trip around the sun for this guy. Jason Willems Diamond Beverage Group
we met many moons ago with red and white stripes and pieces of flair. Life is both circular and linear. Happy Birthday big

03/02/2023

Did you know 90% of the country believes in ghosts? less than a third in evolution? 35% can correctly identify Homer Simpson's fictional town in which he resides, less than 1% knows the name Thurgood Marshall. But... when you put 12 Americans together in a jury and you ask for justice? Something just South of brilliance happens. Often as not, they get it right. - Hank Palmer

02/16/2023

My, how the turntables.

Yesterday evening, I was notified that Eva Millard was apprehended by the US Marshals Service in California. She had previously pled guilty to permitting child abuse resulting in death and was likely the killer of her daughter, 2 year old Olivia Soto. Privately, I had hoped I would get the opportunity to seek justice for Olivia but had only told a small group of people because I was worried it was a task to big. I’m proud we are now one step closer!
Thank you to the U.S. Marshals Service, Arkansas Probation and Parole and law enforcement partners across the nation. This was a joint effort with a lot of moving parts and I can't brag enough about all the agencies involved.

01/08/2020

SUSPENSION OF WORK RELEASE PROGRAM DUE TO OVERCROWDING:

As you're probably already aware, the Washington County Detention Center has been in crisis mode for several years due to overcrowding, and even though we have taken many steps to help ease the overcrowding, it continues to be of critical concern.

Because of this continuing critical concern, and in an effort to keep detainees off the floor, Sheriff Helder has made the difficult decision to suspend, indefinitely, our popular Work Release Program, which allows detainees to work out in the community through government entities such as cities and counties, and allows the detainees to receive extra time-served credit because they're benefitting and serving the community.

By virtue of suspending the program, it immediately freed up 24 beds, which allowed us to move 24 people off the floor.

The Washington County Detention Center is a 710 bed facility, but because of classification requirements, according to Arkansas Jail Standards, it is full at approximately 80% capacity (568 beds). Yesterday, the high count was 792.

As always, we will continue to try and keep you apprised of the critical issues and concerns we are facing due to our jail overcrowding.

04/16/2019

As it should be.

Gregory Willis said the ruling that overturned a lower court was just a matter of asking the justices to leave 100 years of constitutional law intact.

07/04/2017

Good. Worst kind of criminal there is.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction of Mike Maggio, the former circuit judge from Conway, for taking a bribe to reduce the verdict in a nursing home negligence case.

05/30/2017

Rogers District Court Judge Chris Griffin wants to hold people accountable for their actions. He also wants his court to be service oriented.

05/05/2017

If you can't beat em, bully them and trump up charges.

As a public defenders’ investigator, Taryn Blume was shocked to find that she was facing criminal charges – charges initiated by her adversary in the DA’s office. In New Orleans, it’s become a disturbing pattern

04/23/2017

So is the only difference the public speech portion? Is the lesson stay silent?

FAYETTEVILLE -- As national attention turns to Arkansas and the role of judges in scuttling planned executions, Howard Brill recalled his time working to draft a judicial code of conduct.