Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson has returned to court in an effort to resolve his months-long salary dispute, filing a petition Monday asking a circuit judge to force the county to pay his 2025 wages.
Robinson filed a petition for a writ of mandamus on Dec. 1 in Jefferson County Circuit Court, seeking to compel County Clerk Shawndra Taggart to issue a warrant for $53,052.45 in unpaid salary. The move escalates an ongoing conflict between Robinson, the clerk’s office and members of the Jefferson County Quorum Court over whether he is legally entitled to the amount.
In the verified petition, Robinson—represented by attorney Kenneth “Casey” Castleberry—reasserts that the County Court approved his salary claim on Oct. 22 and issued an order directing Taggart to pay the full amount. Under Arkansas law, the filing states, the clerk’s duty to issue payment becomes mandatory once a County Court order is final and unappealed.
According to the petition:
-
Sept. 10: Robinson filed a formal claim for $53,052.45.
-
Sept. 11: He notified the Arkansas attorney general that the claim raised a constitutional challenge.
-
Sept. 18: The attorney general acknowledged receipt.
-
Oct. 22: A hearing was held, and later that day Robinson, acting in his judicial capacity, approved the claim and filed the order with the County Clerk.
-
Oct. 22–Nov. 21: Robinson provided required notices to the attorney general, who again acknowledged receipt.
The filing argues that the County Court order became final because no valid appeal was submitted within the 30-day window provided under Arkansas District Court Rule 9(e). The deadline expired Nov. 21.
On that same day, Lloyd Franklin II filed a “Notice of Appeal and Petition for Review,” but he filed it with the County Clerk rather than the Circuit Clerk. Robinson’s petition calls the filing a legal nullity, arguing it did not perfect an appeal, did not toll the deadline and left the County Court order final and binding.
Taggart told Robinson in a Nov. 24 email that she would not issue payment, saying that doing so would violate SB182, the law enacted earlier this year that reduced county judge salaries statewide. She said any constitutional challenge to the statute must be handled by a higher court.
The petition states that Taggart has cited no legal authority allowing her to ignore a final County Court order.
Robinson’s filing cites Arkansas Code Annotated 14-24-101(a), which says the County Clerk “shall issue a warrant or check” to pay an allowance approved by the County Court.
The petition argues the clerk’s duty is “purely ministerial, not discretionary” and that Robinson has no adequate remedy at law other than mandamus. It asserts that Taggart’s refusal deprives Robinson of a right conferred by law and by a final judicial order.
Robinson has gone unpaid for much of 2025 amid disputes with several justices of the peace over appropriations and the constitutionality of SB182. Robinson argues the law is unconstitutional, while Taggart and others say they must follow it unless a higher court rules otherwise.
A hearing date on Robinson’s petition has not been set. If granted, the writ would require Taggart to immediately issue the unpaid salary.
