Former Arkansas judge Thomas David Carruth has been accused of soliciting sex from the girlfriend of a criminal defendant in exchange for a speedy trial of her boyfriend.
January 7, 2023

A press release from the Department of Justice states, “In April 2022, Carruth allegedly solicited sex from the girlfriend of a defendant in exchange for expediting that defendant’s trial date. Carruth allegedly lied to FBI agents when questioned about the incident.” He was charged with wire fraud, bribery, making false statements, and obstruction of justice. He “faces up to 20 years in prison on the top counts.”

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the woman alleges Carruth offered to release her boyfriend in exchange for sex. Carruth has claimed the woman is trying to blackmail him.

But this is not the first time Carruth has been accused of having “contact” with people involved in his cases. In 2018, he was “formally admonished” by the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission for doing so between 2013-2017, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette noted:

Witnesses said that Carruth would discuss with these people the merits of their case, the commission's report stated, although Carruth denied that accusation.

The commission determined that even if Carruth did not discuss cases with these people, that the "number, times and circumstances" of the meetings created an appearance of impropriety.

I could not determine if Carruth is a Republican, Democrat or officially non-partisan. He does seem to be officially sleazy.

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