Newly elected 8 -North Judicial Circuit Court Judge, Joe Short was sworn into office by Judge Duncan Culpepper at 10:00 am on New Year's Day.

Short is a graduate of the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate degree.

In 1976, Short moved to Hope and began working with Larry Patterson, who was a State Representative at that time. When Patterson passed away, Short joined John Wilson and Charles Walker to establish Wilson, Walker and Short, Attorneys at Law.

Short has continued his law practice there for the last 42 years and he is looking forward to this new venture, "The practice of law is when you're representing a client. It's like pitching the baseball when you're trying to advocate for your client," Short said. "The segue is that I am no longer pitching, but I am calling the balls and strikes in the fact that I get to listen to the arguments, the evidence, and to what is presented. The difference is that instead of trying to convince the judge, I will now be listening to all of what is presented and making a decision," he continued.

"What's interesting, is that as a judge, you hold a lot of things in the palm of your hand to make a determination. From decisions of sentencing people to the department of corrections, to custody issues. It's a whole new ballgame," he went on to say.

Short has held many titles throughout his career, carrying out duties in a multitude of roles. He was Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Hempstead County, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Lafayette County, City Attorney for the City of Lewisville, and most recently, the City Attorney for the City of Hope, giving up that position to step into his new role as Circuit Judge for Hempstead and Nevada Counties.

Short and his wife, Sally Booth Short, reside in Hope and have two children, Christopher and Jordan. They enjoy spending time with their family, especially their 4 grandchildren. When Short isn't practicing law, he enjoys hunting, fishing and watching Razorback Sports.

Short is looking forward to this new journey as 8- North Judicial Circuit Court Judge, saying he is ready for the next step. "Absolutely, I am ready. I have prosecuted people for any number of crimes: burglary, theft, murder, capital murder, possession of controlled substances. But, I have also defended people for those same offenses," Short said. "I feel that I am now able to balance all of that and give justice to the people. I am proud to serve Hempstead and Nevada County."