John Shepherd

On January 6, 2026, President Trump nominated John Shepherd to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. He was confirmed on April 14, 2026.

Biography

Born in El Dorado, Arkansas, in 1987, Shepherd earned a B.A. from Rice University in 2009 and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2013.

Legal Experience 

From 2013 through 2016, Shepherd worked as an attorney at the Law Offices of Matthew J. Shepherd (his brother and former Arkansas House Speaker). Shepherd worked as a partner at Shepherd and Shepherd from 2016 through 2024. During that time, he also worked at the Thirteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, first as a prosecuting attorney from 2017 through 2019, and then as a deputy prosecuting attorney from 2019 through 2024. In 2025, Shepherd became a circuit judge in Arkansas’ Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

Key Facts & Context

Professional and Legal Associations

Arkansas Judicial Council (2025 – present); Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Automation (2024 – present); Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation, Board of Directors (2021 – present); Uniform Law Commission (2017 – present); Arkansas Bar Association (2013 – present); Union County Bar Association (2013 – present); The Federalist Society (2011, 2017 – present); Arkansas Prosecuting Attorney Association (2016 – 2024); Association of the Bar of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (2017 – 2024); National District Attorney Association (2017 – 2018); Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc., On-Call Attorney (2015 – 2020); National Football League Players Association, Certified Contract Advisor (2015 – 2018); Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney, United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas (2014 – 2016).