Circuit Court, 4th Judicial, Division VIII Judge: Diane Warren

Judge Diane Warren is originally from Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University with a Degree in Speech Communications.  She then graduated from Indiana University School of Law in 1996.  She moved to Arkansas in 1997 and began her career in welfare law.  She served as an attorney for children in foster care for 11 years before opening a private practice in 2012.  She began serving as Juvenile Judge in 2021.  Judge Warren enjoys the great outdoors of Northwest Arkansas in her free time.  

        Court Bailiff: Allen Lott

Allen attended the University of Arkansas majoring in Criminal Justice.  Allen worked at the Wall-Mart home office for 22 years.  Allen began his career with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in 2001 as a part time officer while working at Wal-Mart.  In 2017, he went full time with the Sheriff’s Office working at the Washington County Courthouse as a part of Courthouse Services.  In 2021, when Judge Warren took the bench, he became her full time bailiff.  In his free time Allen enjoys riding bikes on the greenway, watching his daughter swim, and supporting anything Razorback.

Trial Court Administrator: Taylor Ferguson

Taylor is a native to Arkansas. 

Official Court Reporter: Ralenn McBee 

RaLenn McBee is a native to Arkansas.  She joined the military right after high school and after discharge received her paralegal degree from Anne Arundel Community College in Annapolis, Maryland.  RaLenn became a certified court reported in 1997 and has been an official court reporter for 19 years.  She became Judge Warren’s official court reporter when the judge first took the bench in January 2020.  In her free time she enjoys gardening and sharing her harvest with Division VIII.

Director of Programs/Community Resource Coordinator: Karen January

Karen earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Secondary Education from the University of Arkansas. 

 Washington County Juvenile Court, Division VIII Probation Staff

Director of Juvenile Court Services: Anna O'Dell-Smith

 Anna O'Dell graduated with a Bachelors Degree from the University of Arkansas. 

Lead FINS Officer: Ashley Bush

Ashley earned her Bachelors Degree in Psychology of Human Behavior and has history working with kids on the Autism Spectrum, intellectually disabled adults, and individuals with emotional disturbances.  In her free time she likes to play video games, play softball, and spend time with her Corgi, Tucker.

 Picture Coming Soon:  Lead Probation Officer: Naomi Curtis 

Juvenile Intake Officer (Delinquency), Jennifer Bryant

Jennifer graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminology from Arkansas State University.  She moved to NWA 2003 and has worked in the legal field for 22 years. Jennifer is a huge football fan and enjoys spending quality time with her girls. 

Juvenile Intake Officer (FINS), Melissa Vega

Melissa was born in Santa Barbara, California.  She moved to Arkansas at age 10 and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2018 with a Bachelor of Social Work.  Melissa loves using her spare time to spend with family and friends.  Her favorite thing to do is travel with her love ones.

Picture Coming Soon: Juvenile Intake Officer (Delinquency), Amanda DeWitt

Juvenile Probation Officer, Jatori Harris

Jatori Harris a curriculum specialist with nonprofit organizations and has implemented cultural arts and restorative justice mentoring for youth and families as well as incarcerated adults impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Jatori has worked with Children and Family services for over 11 years helping system involved youth transition independently off probation and from foster care.  He has collaborated with community partners to find resources that help support youth in transition to adulthood and looks forward to serving the youth and families in Washington County. 

Juvenile Probation Officer, Verginia Abo

Juvenile Probation Officer, Rob Babione