Court Page-Judge Morgan "Chip" Welch

09/24/2026

PCDC AT “ALL RISE” CONFERENCE IN MISSOURI

Pulaski District Court and Sherwood District Court are the two Impaired Driving specialty courts in Central Arkansas. These Courts offer an alternative to incarceration for “High Risk/High Need” impaired drivers which involve intensive court supervision, therapy and monitoring.

This week, our two judges,counsel, our partners from Recovery Centers of Arkansas and staff joined addiction and alcohol recovery court specialists from around the country for the “All Rise Impaired Driving Solutions Conference” held at the Broadway Hotel and Convention Center, and at the Boone County Courthouse in Columbia, Missouri!

We were hosted by the Boone County Program which is a nationally recognized “Academy Court”. It was great for us to share this experience with Judge Butch Hale and his fine folks!

Interestingly, on our last full day, a familiar looking bus showed up…

09/18/2026

We welcome Kate Braboy to the Bar. She’s worked at PCDC for well over a year as an intern and now joins the Prosecution team!

Congrats Kate!

09/12/2026

Proud to participate (as “Judge”) in Literacy Action of Central Arkansas’ “Trivia Bee” at First United Methodist in Little Rock. Our emcee was Brooke Buckner of THV11. Congrats to the winning team ( 2 years in a row) named: “We Thought It Was Bingo!”

09/11/2026

09/07/2026

HAPPY LABOR DAY!
Thankful for America’s Working People!

09/04/2026

Pulaski County District Court says “Go Hogs!”
(And we’re honoring the memory of Judge Wayne Gruber!)

08/31/2026

It is my sad duty to report the loss of one of Arkansas’ finest jurists.

Judge Wayne Gruber, who helmed Pulaski County District Court for 24 years, passed away early this afternoon. The court he created is his fine and sturdy legacy that will serve as a fitting tribute to his memory.

But Judge Gruber was so much more than that. He was an Air Force veteran, a competitive cross country runner, a former County Attorney, a husband to Retired Court of Appeals Judge Rita Gruber , a father, and a grandfather.

He established our Pulaski County Sobriety Court, driven by his compassion for others and a heart-felt belief in giving the option of redemption to those addicted to alcohol and convicted of Drunk Driving.

He treated everyone he met with respect and a genuine interest in their wellbeing. No litigant in his court ever went away feeling that he or she hadn’t been seen and fully heard.

Pulaski County and Arkansas have lost a valuable citizen this day.

May God Bring him home and give comfort to his loved ones.

Chip Welch
Pulaski County District Court Judge

08/26/2026

Justice Hickman passes. God Bless this good judge.

Had the honor of appearing before Justice Hickman when he was a Chancery Judge in Little Rock and later at the Supreme Court. He was a thoughtful and honest jurist.

He was also a folk and country music enthusiast who famously played with former Judges David Bogart and Justice David Newburn on many occasions. I imagine Judge Bogard still has the newspaper cartoon that ran depicting the three singing judges.

Once, shortly after going to the Supreme Court, he visited our offices when I was a young lawyer, saw my guitar in the corner and proceeded to play a medley of Merle Haggard and Hank Williams tunes.

I decided then he was well-rounded in his judicial temperament!

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Darrell Hickman, a longtime jurist, died Thursday.

08/21/2026

Honored to attend another graduation and grateful for the opportunity to swear in an outstanding class!

In addition to the standard “Arkansas State Officials Oath of Office”, I added a second oath: language from “The Law Enforcement Oath of Honor” contained in the program. It’s a fine aspirational statement.

Congratulations!

07/15/2026

Good News! Prayers for Justice Webb for continued recovery!