Retired judges assigned to serve in Division 2 Circuit Judge Wade Naramore's stead have been paid $15,539 through Wednesday while Naramore has continued to draw his $160,000 annual salary, according to the Arkansas state auditor's office.
An arrest warrant charging the judge with negligent homicide in the death of his 18-month-old son, Thomas, was issued Thursday after a more than six-month investigation (see related story). He hasn't presided over court sessions since the July 24 death, which, according to the arrest report, was the result of his son being left in a hot car for approximately five hours.
Court records show Naramore has signed orders in domestic relations and probate proceedings during his absence from the bench.
The total the auditor's office provided doesn't include pay for 21 assignments since Jan. 27. The chief justice of the state Supreme Court has issued orders for 73 special judge assignments in Division 2 through Feb. 4, with the first assignment sending retired Circuit Judge David Goodson to substitute for Naramore Sept. 23.
Retired judges appointed to serve as special judges receive $307.69 a day, or half the daily rate for a full-time judge, according to the auditor's office. The special judge rate is calculated by dividing a circuit judge's $160,000 annual salary by 2,080 hours, multiplying the quotient by eight and dividing the product by two.
The $10,769 Goodson was issued for 35 assignments through Wednesday is the highest total for the five retired judges who have substituted for Naramore. It doesn't include the 10 days he was assigned to this month or a Jan. 22 assignment. The auditor's office said payments from the state appropriation for special judges aren't released until the administrative office of the courts submits a payment request.
Retired Circuit Judge Stephen Choate has been paid $3,846 for 12.5 days of assignments that don't include the nine days he was assigned to this month or a Jan. 27 assignment. Retired Circuit Judge Alan Epley was paid $1,230 for four days of assignments. Retired circuit judges Ellen Brantley and Ted Capeheart were respectively paid for one and two days of service.
The more than $15,000 paid out through Wednesday doesn't include $1,018 for retired circuit judges Sam Bird and John Langston to adjudicate civil cases related to Special Prosecutor Scott Ellington's investigation. Bird ordered the release of recordings from 911 calls Naramore and his father-in-law made the day of the incident after Little Rock attorney and blogger Matt Campbell petitioned the court for their release.
Langston issued a protective order in December for statements captured at the scene by police body microphones and dashboard cameras after Ellington requested that they be withheld.
Bob McMahan, the state's prosecutor coordinator, who recommended that Ellington, the prosecutor for the 2nd Judicial District in northeast Arkansas, serve as special prosecutor, said Ellington hasn't received any pay in addition to his regular salary.
McMahan said Ellington can submit expenses related to his investigation to the Garland County prosecutor's office.
Local on 02/12/2016