Jonesboro, AR — (Contributed) — July 9, 2025 — Curtis Hitt has officially announced his candidacy for the office of Circuit Judge, Division 4, in the Second Judicial District of Arkansas.

The district includes the counties of Craighead, Greene, Clay, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Crittenden and is currently represented by Circuit Judge Doug Brimhall.

Hitt has been an attorney for 28 years. He began his career as a deputy prosecuting attorney. From 1997 to 2005 he served primarily in Greene County but also prosecuted serious felony cases for Craighead and Mississippi Counties. Hitt prosecuted thousands of cases in Circuit and District Courts and handled all felonies—including several murder, rape, and child abuse cases—and helped secure multiple life sentences for violent offenders.

In 2005, Hitt opened his private practice in Paragould, where he has since represented clients from all walks of life in many areas of the law, including civil litigation, family law, criminal law, estate planning, juvenile law, and probate law.

A native of Mississippi County, Hitt earned his undergraduate degree from Arkansas State University and his juris doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. He has also earned master’s-level credit through the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Twice, Hitt has served as a Special Associate Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court and is a current member of the Arkansas Board of Law Examiners by appointment of the Court. He has taught Criminal Law and the Constitution as an adjunct professor at Arkansas State University and instructed police cadets as a Certified Law Enforcement Instructor at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy.

He has held membership in both the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the Arkansas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, as well as the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association, and is a current member of the Arkansas Bar Association.

“It has been my privilege to both prosecute criminal cases on behalf of our community and represent the interests of individual clients in a wide variety of legal matters. These experiences have given me a balanced perspective. I’ve seen the law from various angles and understand the judge’s unique role in administrating justice fairly and efficiently.”

As for his judicial philosophy, Hitt added, “I will apply the law—as it is written and even-handedly—to advance the cause of justice, safeguard the Constitution, and preserve the rule of law.”

Hitt and his wife, Shauna, have been married for 26 years. A former occupational therapist, Shauna has worked with nonprofit organizations, including Options of Paragould and 100 Families, and she now owns Crush Boutique in downtown Paragould. They live in Paragould with their daughter, Gabriella Grace, a student at Greene County Tech Junior High. Their adult son, Cruz, is a recent graduate of Arkansas State University and a newlywed who resides in Jonesboro.

The Hitts are active members of Grace Baptist Church, where Curtis has served as an elder and Bible study teacher. His community involvement includes past service on the boards of the Greene County Tech School District, the Paragould Chamber of Commerce, and the Paragould Housing Authority.

Curtis currently serves on the board of directors for the Christian Men’s Job Corps and RISE for the Family, a nonprofit organization for victims of domestic violence that he and Shauna co-founded in 2024. He is also a current member of Gideons International and has coached youth soccer, baseball, and basketball teams.

The election for Circuit Judge will be held on March 3, 2026.