BATESVILLE, Ark. — Kimberly Edington, a Batesville native and experienced family law attorney, is running for Circuit Judge in Division 4 of the 16th Judicial District in the March 3, 2026, nonpartisan election.
Edington, who maintains a private practice focused on family law—including divorce, child custody, alimony, adoption, guardianship, paternity and child support—is challenging Maureen Harrod for the seat. Division 4 primarily handles felony and criminal cases across Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard and Stone counties.
Raised in Batesville as the oldest of seven children (with two older stepsiblings), Edington graduated from Batesville High School. She pursued her legal career after personal family experiences with the court system during her childhood inspired her to become an attorney to help others in similar situations. She has been involved in more than 1,000 cases throughout her legal career, gaining a broad range of experience that she believes qualifies her for the bench.
Her campaign slogan, “FAIR. HONEST. COMMITTED.,” underscores her platform of treating all parties with fairness and integrity. Edington has emphasized her roots in the community and her determination to serve, noting that she overcame significant challenges—including coming from a modest background, working to support herself and her child while attending law school, and not having held prior public office.
Edington serves on several community boards, including the Family Violence Prevention board, the Arisa Health board and Legal Aid of Arkansas. She is a deputy prosecutor in Independence County and is married to Jason Edington, a lifelong resident of the county. She is a proud mother of two.
Edington announced her candidacy in June 2025 and participated in the Independence County Bar Association judicial forum on Jan. 15, 2026, at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, where she discussed her qualifications and vision for the court.
For more information on her campaign, visit edington4judge.com or follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/edington4judge. Voters in the five-county district will decide the race on March 3. All candidates are presumed qualified unless otherwise noted by election authorities.
