LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Supreme Court announced that an internal audit revealed irregularities in the state bar exam scores of at least 64 examinees spanning July 2020 through July 2025. The review, conducted by six justices, found that points were removed from some candidates and added to others who sat for the same exam.
Alleged misconduct by former court official
The justices identified Nancie Givens, the former executive director of the court’s Office of Professional Programs, as the individual who allegedly directed the score adjustments. According to the affidavit, the changes allowed several examinees to reach or exceed the 270‑point threshold required to pass the bar. In at least one instance, a candidate who earned a passing score may have been recorded as failing.
Legal repercussions
Givens, 62, now faces 65 felony counts of tampering with a public record. Court records show she surrendered on a warrant and entered a not‑guilty plea on Nov. 5. A $2,500 bond was set, and a review hearing is scheduled for Jan. 4. The same docket includes an order sealing the investigative file.
In a separate order issued Nov. 5, the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct suspended Givens from practicing law in the state. Federal investigators also seized electronic devices from her office that contained confidential records.
Impact on examinees and the legal community
The Office of Professional Conduct will notify any affected examinees once the results are verified. The court did not disclose how many individuals received passing scores in error or how many have already been admitted to the bar.
Gregg Parrish, executive director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission, warned that attorneys who believed they had passed the exam acted in good faith, but those who knowingly benefited from altered scores could face criminal charges and have their legal work invalidated.
Questions remain
NEA Report reached out to Robert Brech, executive director of the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Office of Professional Conduct and Programs, seeking details on the number of erroneous passing scores, subsequent admissions, and whether any affected clients will be notified or have their cases reviewed. The outlet also asked whether the court can release records documenting its findings. The story will be updated when a response is received.
All suspects remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
