Tricia Harris Sworn in as U.S. Magistrate Judge

Former Assistant U. S. Attorney, Tricia Harris was officially sworn in at noon Friday as the newest U. S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.  Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Miller administered the oath in front of about a dozen onlookers including her husband, Jim Harris; their 13 year old son, Scott; and her mother, Pat Newton.

Magistrate Judges serve eight-year renewable terms.  Their duties include overseeing pre-trial matters in criminal cases including authorizing search warrants and trying civil cases upon the consent of the litigants.

Before becoming and an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Harris was a partner at the Wright, Lindsey, and Jennings Law Firm, where she focused on civil litigation including medical malpractice and product liability defense.

Mrs. Harris, formerly Tricia Sievers, grew up in Warren with her mother Mrs. Pat Newton and her father, the late Mr. Bob Newton.