Thomas David Carruth Admonished Removed

Thomas David Carruth, an elected Monroe County, Arkansas District Court judge, was convicted on one federal count of making false statements after lying to FBI agents investigating his conduct. In April 2022, Carruth solicited sex from the girlfriend of a defendant in a criminal case pending before him; she recorded the exchange, which led to the FBI's investigation.

When questioned, Carruth denied ever requesting, asking, offering, insinuating, or even thinking about sex with the woman — statements the jury found to be false. He was acquitted of separate bribery, honest services fraud, and Travel Act charges, but was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison on the false-statements conviction by U.S. District Court Judge D. Price Marshall Jr.

This was not Carruth's first brush with judicial discipline: a November 2018 admonishment from the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission had already stemmed from allegations that he solicited sexual favors from women appearing before him as a judge.