State District Judge Chaney Taylor announces his candidacy for 16th Judicial District Circuit Judge, Division 1.  The 16th Judicial District is comprised of 5 counties: Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, & Stone.  Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Judge Taylor served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999-2004, including part of that time representing Independence, Stone and Van Buren Counties. Following that, he was elected Independence County District Judge in 2004 and has served in that capacity for 20+ years, handling upwards of 50,000 cases..  

A Batesville native, he has many accomplishments during his 20-year judicial tenure, including starting Arkansas’ first sobriety court program in 2009, which is designed to get repeat impaired drivers off the road, into treatment, gainfully employed, and thus improving public safety.  The program has graduated over 100 people, reunited families, and eased stress on jail populations and county budgets.  In 2024, Arkansas’ Impaired Driving Prevention Task Force named Judge Taylor the winner of their ‘Force for Good’ Award.  Judge Taylor has also presided over the Independence County and Izard/Fulton County Adult Drug Courts for several years.  The Arkansas Drug Court Professionals Association named Judge Taylor the 2024 ‘Specialty Court Judge of the Year’ for his efforts in helping move people out of addiction and into recovery.  In 2025, Batesville Guard readers voted Judge Taylor as ‘Best Judge of Independence County’.  Taylor also hears order of protection cases in Independence County and was named the ‘Hands of Empowerment’ award winner by Family Violence Prevention. These awards reflect his commitment to innovative court practices, an even temperament, and excellence in judicial performance.

Judge Taylor and his wife, Leah, have been married for 28 years with four children. They enjoy spending time on Greers Ferry Lake and fishing on the White River.  He and his family have been active members of the First United Methodist Church in Batesville for many years. Taylor is a lifetime NRA member, lifetime VFW Aux member, and holds lifetime Arkansas Game & Fish licenses and boating certification.  Taylor said, “It has been the honor of my life to serve as District Judge in the community where I was born and raised.  I am ready to bring my two decades of experience and deep understanding of the law to the circuit court level. I respectfully ask for your vote on March 3, 2026.”