The Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission said Tuesday it is investigating Saline County Circuit Judge Bobby McCallister over issues surrounding his taxes.
McCallister has $104,648 worth of IRS tax liens filed against him for unpaid personal taxes, according to federal tax liens filed by the IRS in 2011. The unpaid taxes are for the tax years 2000-3 and 2005-8, according to the documents in Saline County Circuit Court.
The Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission opened the investigation in March.
"To our knowledge the judge has not been charged with any violation at this time and the JDDC Investigation Panel is still obtaining all information on the allegations relevant to the Code of Judicial Conduct," David J. Sachar, the commission's executive director, said in a statement. "No additional public information is available at this time."
McCallister told Arkansas Business on Tuesday that the unpaid taxes "are really not something I can discuss at this point." He said he also couldn't comment on the JDDC investigation.
Sachar told Arkansas Business that he couldn't comment on the investigation. But he said the case would end in a dismissal or a sanction, or it would go to the full commission, which is similar to a trial.
McCallister, who started practicing law in 1991, began serving as judge in 2009 and earns $160,000 annually.
In a 2008 video advertisement for candidate for judge, McCallister said Saline County is his home.
"It's where my wife and I have chosen to raise our children, go to church and be involved," he said in the ad. "We have served this community at church, at work and through many community activities."
