A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Longtime Circuit Judge L.T. Simes Dies At 65

L.T. Simes
KATV, Channel 7 News

Longtime Circuit Court Judge L.T. Simes II has died in a Missouri hospital. He was 65.

Brown's Home for Funerals in Helena-West Helena says Simes died Saturday at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Simes was first elected in the 1st Judicial District in 1996. He served until 2009 when he was suspended by the Arkansas Supreme Court for violating judicial rules. He was re-elected in 2010 and remained in that role until his death.

Simes was also the co-owner of Delta Force III Radio Network, which was the first black radio station in Arkansas' Mississippi Delta region. He taught Bible lessons on air for more than 25 years.

The Times-Herald newspaper reports retired circuit court judge Harvey Yates will hear Simes' cases until a replacement is appointed.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.