McCallister will run for circuit judge

Bobby McCallister

Benton attorney Bobby D. Mc- Callister is a candidate for Saline County circuit judge, First Division.

Incumbent Robert W. Garrett has announced he is not seeking re-election.

McCallister, 43, was born in Benton and graduated with honors from Benton High School in 1983. He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Central Arkansas at Conway in 1988 and graduated from the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law with a juris doctor in 1991.

McCallister began his legal career in Benton in August 1991 and has continued in private practice since that time.

He has served as city court judge in both Haskell and Shannon Hills. In addition to his private practice, he is a part-time deputy prosecutor for Saline County.

He has served as Haskell city atsee torney and as an attorney ad litem, representing abused and neglected juveniles. He has served as special judge in the circuit and district Courts of Saline County, and has presided in both civil and criminal jury and bench trials in these courts.

He is a former president of the Saline County Bar Association.

After 16 years in the practice of law, McCallister feels he's well-qualified to serve as circuit judge. He contends his experience in presiding in courts in Haskell and Shannon Hills, along with having served as special judge on numerous occasions, has prepared him by actually forcing him to make decisions on nearly every type of case that he will see as a circuit judge.

"I have experience both arguing to a jury and presiding over one," he said. "This, along with having been a criminal defense lawyer and prosecutor, has specially qualified me for this position.

"I believe that it requires a great deal of courtroom experience for someone to be an effective judge, and that is what I have to offer," he said. "When my experience is combined with the things I learned from representing children who were mistreated, and prosecuting both adults and juveniles, and then I bring in the family and Christian values and work ethic that I learned from my parents and my church, I know that I can be an effective and fair-minded judge."

The election in May is nonpartisan and will appear on both the Republican and Democratic primary ballots.

McCallister is married to the former Starla Putman and has three children. Hannah, 13, attends Benton Junior High School; Rachel, 11, attends Benton Middle School; and Matthew, 6, attends Howard Perrin Elementary School.

Starla McCallister has been employed at Birch Tree Communities for more than 16 years and currently is director of admissions.

The McCallisters attend First Baptist Church in Benton, where Bobby McCalllister teaches an adult Sunday School class and assists with a kindergarten choir. Starla McCallister teaches a 3-year-old mission education classes.

Bobby McCallister is the youngest son of Marvin and Sue McCallister. His father is retired from Alcoa, and his parents formerly owned Mc's Garden Center and Nursery in Benton.

McCallister's community activities include being a longtime member of the Benton Kiwanis Club, serving on the Benton School Board and serving as a volunteer coach for the Benton High School football team.

McCallister also has coached fast-pitch softball and basketball at both the Boys' and Girls' Club and with Reward Sports. He has served as the chair for the Kiwanis Honors Banquet and for the Boy Scouts Ouachita Area Council annual fundraiser.