December 10, 2017–Chris Walton announced Sunday that he is a candidate for Saline County Prosecuting Attorney in the upcoming May 2018 election. Walton, a former deputy prosecutor and the current Chief Public Defender for Saline County, decided to seek the position of Prosecuting Attorney following the announcement that the current prosecutor, Ken Casady, will not seek reelection.
In making his announcement, Walton said, “My passion for fighting crime began almost thirty years ago when my brother was the victim of a violent crime in Little Rock. The dedication and commitment to justice demonstrated by the law enforcement officers and prosecutor assigned to handle my brother’s case left a lasting influence on me. I knew then that I was called to public service. I wanted to be able to have that kind of a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Walton served as a prosecutor in Saline County courts for more than a decade. He handled cases ranging from capital murder and other violent crimes to complex drug cases. “As Prosecuting Attorney, I promise that I will work hard to send dangerous criminals to prison and give victims a voice. It is the responsibility of the Prosecuting Attorney to ensure that victims are informed and have a voice in the justice system,” said Walton.
While serving as deputy prosecutor, the local judges recommended Walton to state officials to serve as Chief Public Defender. He was appointed to the position in 2015. Prior to his service as a deputy prosecutor, Walton advocated on behalf of neglected children and adults for the State of Arkansas.
Walton and his wife, Kathryn, have two teenage daughters. He is an active member of his church and coached his girls’ soccer teams. Chris received his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
