Administrative Order Number 1
Assignment and Responsibility of Family Court Judges

Pursuant to the purpose and intent of the Family Court of the 25th Judicial Circuit, Judge Mary W. Sheffield, Presiding Judge, hereby makes the following orders to assist with efficiency and to clarify the jurisdiction of Judges operating under the Family Court.

  1. The following Judges are each designated as the Family Court Judge in the following counties in the 25th Judicial Circuit. Said Family Court Judges have concurrent and original jurisdiction with the Circuit Judges of Division I and Division II for cases listed in Local Court Rule 68.1:
    1. Maries County: Judge John Clayton;
    2. Pulaski County: Judge Greg Warren;
    3. Texas County: Judge Douglas Gaston; and
    4. Phelps County: Judge Ralph J. Haslag.
  2. The Family Court Judges in each county are charged with the primary responsibility of case management duties as defined in Local Court Rules and as further delineated in subsequent administrative orders.
  3. In the event that one of the above Family Court Judges is disqualified by a party or on their own motion, the successor Family Court Judge for each county shall be as follows:
    1. Maries County: Judge Douglas Gaston;
    2. Pulaski County: Judge Ralph J. Haslag;
    3. Texas County: Judge John Clayton; and
    4. Phelps County: Judge Greg Warren
  4. In the event the successor Family Court Judge is disqualified, then case management responsibilities for that case will be assumed in the following order:
    1. Judge Ralph J. Haslag;
    2. Judge John Clayton;
    3. Judge Greg Warren; and
    4. Judge Douglas Gaston.
  5. In the event that one of the Family Court Judges is not able to undertake case management duties for more than five (5) working days, then the Administrative Judge of the Family Court for the 25th Judicial Circuit shall be responsible for day-to-day case management duties until such Judge is able to resume their duties. In the event that the Administrative Law Judge is unable to perform day-to-day case management duties, the general case management duties are to be performed in the order listed first in paragraph 3 above, and thereafter in paragraph 4 above.

This Order is effective January 9, 2009 and to remain in effect until further order of this Court.