Asa Hutchinson III Faces Disbarment After DWI and Drug Charges

Asa Hutchinson III, an Arkansas attorney and son of former Governor Asa Hutchinson, faces disbarment proceedings before the Arkansas Supreme Court after pleading guilty in 2023 to felony cocaine possession and second-offense DWI. The state’s Office of Professional Conduct filed its petition in September 2025, and a special judge is scheduled to hear the case on March 18, 2026.¹

Where the Disbarment Case Stands

In September 2025, the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Office of Professional Conduct petitioned to disbar Hutchinson, arguing that his guilty plea to a felony drug charge qualifies as a “serious crime” that triggers mandatory disbarment proceedings under the court’s rules.¹

On October 16, 2025, the Arkansas Supreme Court assigned retired Judge Barbara Halsey to preside as special judge. Her role is to hear evidence, issue findings of fact and conclusions of law, and recommend an appropriate sanction. The full court will then render the final decision.² As of March 2026 reporting, the case remained pending ahead of the scheduled hearing.³

The Conviction That Triggered Disbarment

On January 13, 2023, three days after his father left the governor’s office, a Benton County sheriff’s deputy pulled Hutchinson over for allegedly driving 71 mph in a 45 mph zone. During the 45-minute traffic stop, the deputy found a small quantity of cocaine on him and a gun in his vehicle. Prosecutors charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance, second-offense DWI, and refusal to submit to a chemical test. No firearms charges were filed.⁴

On October 18, 2023, Hutchinson pleaded guilty in Benton County court to the cocaine possession and second-offense DWI counts. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed the chemical-test refusal charge. Judge Brad Karen sentenced him to 10 days in jail, with credit for two days served, and three years of unsupervised probation.⁵

The felony drug conviction is the specific predicate the Office of Professional Conduct relies on to invoke mandatory disbarment proceedings.¹

The Earlier Arrests on the Record

The disciplinary committee has described Hutchinson’s conduct as a “pattern of frequent, consistent conduct for years,” pointing to incidents dating back to 2016.¹

In January 2016, Arkansas State Police arrested him on Interstate 49 near Fayetteville and charged him with DWI, careless driving, and refusing a sobriety test.⁶ Four months later, in May 2016, he was arrested in Baldwin County, Alabama, on a felony controlled-substance charge while trying to enter the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores.⁷

In May 2018, state police arrested him again in Washington County for speeding, DWI, and refusing a blood-alcohol test.⁸ He pleaded guilty that December and received 365 days in jail with 364 suspended, a $1,000 fine, and alcohol treatment.⁹ The committee has also cited a 2019 drug arrest in Rogers, Arkansas.¹

The 2023 Interim Suspension and Its Reversal

Seven days after the 2023 arrest, on January 20, the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Committee on Professional Conduct suspended Hutchinson’s law license on an interim basis, finding he “lacks fitness to practice law” based on his criminal history and his dependence on or disregard for the risks of drugs and alcohol.⁴

Hutchinson challenged the suspension, arguing that his conduct was “incidental” to the practice of law and did not pose a “substantial risk of serious harm to the public.”¹⁰ On May 18, 2023, the Arkansas Supreme Court reinstated his license in a 4-3 decision. The majority, led by Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, held that the committee had acted “too hastily” by suspending him without notice and a hearing, and raised “grave concerns about uniformity of treatment,” citing another attorney charged with mail fraud in 2019 who was not suspended until years later.⁴

Justice Courtney Hudson dissented, joined by Justices Karen Baker and Robin Wynne. Hudson called the January 2023 arrest Hutchinson’s “fifth such soiree with law enforcement over seven years’ time” and said the committee’s actions were “entirely proper” given his “extensive history of arrests and convictions” and “flagrant disregard for the law.” Hudson pointed to a 45-minute police body-camera video that was available to the committee, distinguishing the case from the comparison the majority relied on.¹¹ The court directed the committee to revise its rules to add stronger due-process protections.¹⁰

That reversal is why the current proceeding exists as a formal disbarment petition rather than a summary suspension: this time the state is pursuing the sanction through the full process the court said it owes Hutchinson, with the October 2023 felony conviction now on the record as the predicate.

What Happens at the March 2026 Hearing

Judge Halsey will take evidence, make findings, and recommend a sanction. The Arkansas Supreme Court then issues the final ruling, which can range up to disbarment. The hearing is set for March 18, 2026.¹

1
NWA Homepage. Son of Ex-Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Faces Potential Disbarment
2
Justia. Brech v. Hutchinson, 2025 Ark. 159
3
Texarkana Gazette. Hearing Set to Consider Disbarment of Former Governor’s Son
4
Arkansas Advocate. Arkansas High Court Orders Law License Reinstated to Former Governor’s Son
5
4029tv. William Asa Hutchinson III Plea Deal
6
Talk Business. Son of Gov. Asa Hutchinson Arrested in Fayetteville for DWI
7
UALR Public Radio. Governor Hutchinson’s Son Arrested on Felony Drug Charge
8
UALR Public Radio. Son of Arkansas Governor Again Arrested on Driving While Intoxicated Charge
9
WREG. Arkansas Governor’s Son Pleads Guilty to DWI, Won’t Serve Jail Time
10
Justia. William Asa Hutchinson III v. Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct
11
Arkansas Times. Asa Hutchinson III Gets Law License Back as Justice Hudson Issues Strong Rebuke