Washington Co. Judge Patrick Deakins is allergic to transparency and loves to hire outside counsel. Are taxpayers on the hook for Patrick Deakins’ spending on private law firms?
Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins has built his public reputation on fiscal prudence and government accountability. Yet a review of recent court rulings and county actions reveals problems with transparency and open government. Deakins seems over-eager to use taxpayer funds for private legal counsel.
This spring, the Arkansas Court of Appeals (the state’s second-highest court) upheld a lower-court ruling that Deakins and Washington County violated Arkansas’s Freedom of Information Act.
The ruling pertains to a February 2023 meeting of the county’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Board subcommittee, which was closed to the public. Deakins admitted during testimony that he wanted the meetings to be private.
The court called the meeting a clear violation of the Freedom of Information Act and ordered the county to pay the plaintiff’s legal fees.
Outside counsel

Court records list Story Law Firm, a private NWA law firm, as representing both the county and Deakins, rather than relying on the county attorney for representation in the suit.
A separate lawsuit, filed in federal court in June, challenges the county’s use of COVID-relief (ARPA) dollars for jail-related projects. The docket shows another set of private attorneys, Wright Lindsey Jennings partners Eric Berger and Scott Irby, representing the county and Deakins.
Invoices, payment records, and authorizations for that representation have not yet been made public.
More transparency questions
In September, the Washington County Quorum Court indefinitely postponed public discussion of findings from a multi-agency investigation into alleged misuse of county property at the sheriff’s office.
Meeting footage and minutes show tense exchanges over whether to release the report. Critics accused county leadership of “burying” uncomfortable information; Deakins maintained that releasing incomplete findings could harm employees.
Why outside counsel matters
Hiring private law firms is not necessarily unusual. But, public expenditure reports show these kinds of contracts can cost county taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.
In an effort to determine Deakins’ cost to taxpayers, On AR Watch has filed Freedom of Information Act requests seeking:
- retainer agreements and invoices for Story Law Firm and Wright Lindsey Jennings
- correspondence authorizing the hires
- quorum court ordinances approving the expenditures
When provided, these records will clarify how much taxpayer money has been spent defending the county and its judge in ongoing litigation.
A pattern of closed doors
The FOIA court loss, pending federal litigation, and the postponed sheriff’s-office report suggest a distaste for transparency under Deakins’ administration.
Whether the issues stem from legal caution or a broader reluctance toward openness is now a question for Washington County residents.
Next up: On AR Watch will publish the results of our FOIA requests once billing and contract records are released.