CIRCUIT JUDGES – 7th Judicial District

Honorable Margaret Dobson – Division 1

ABOUT JUDGE DOBSON

Judge Margaret Dobson earned her law degree with highest honors from the UA Little Rock School of Law and holds a BBA from Harding University. Before taking the bench, she owned and ran a private law practice for 23 years, prosecuted for several cities, and represented vulnerable children and adults statewide as their court appointed attorney. 

Judge Dobson was appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in April 2024 as Circuit Judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Arkansas, covering Grant and Hot Spring Counties. She was appointed Special Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court by Governor Asa Hutchinson in 2016. She is a past president of the Arkansas Bar Association and presently serves on a committee that helps educate judges and lawyers about AI.  Judge Dobson is active in her community through the Lions Club, Friends of the Library, the historical society, and her church. She and her husband, David, live in Sheridan, and have three sons and one grandson.

Honorable Stephen Shirron   – Division 2

ABOUT JUDGE SHIRRON

Judge Shirron earned his B.A. in Criminology from Arkansas State Univ. in 2003 and his Juris Doctor from Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in 2007.  After maintaining a general practice in Malvern from 2007-2012, he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit from 2013-2014 and served as Chief Deputy Prosecutor from 2015-2020.  Judge Shirron was elected Division 2 Circuit Judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit in 2020 and took office January 1, 2021.

Judge Shirron has extensive litigation experience, having tried over 35 jury trials as an attorney and presided over more than 40 jury trials as judge.  Currently Judge Shirron presides over cases in all subject matter jurisdictions, including Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate in both Hot Spring and Grant Counties