Why Patrick Deakins Must Go!
For 3 years as County Judge, Patrick Deakins has bullied his way through Washington County, imposing (without a mandate):
- “Out of control” spending!
- Avoidable risks!
- Consolidation of power!
and worst of all, …
“Created Hostile/Aggressive County Leadership!”
Deakins’ disappointing record speaks for itself—
Part Three: Ego too costly!
Deakins continues expensive attempts at replacing Washington County’s long-standing zoning ordinance.
Such attempts include:
1-Overriding the legal authority of the Planning Board by solely preparing a new zoning ordinance. (Aug 2024)
- Ark. Code Ann. §14-17-209. (1) The county planning board shall have authority to prepare, or to cause to be prepared, a zoning ordinance
2-Illegally dissolving the Planning Board to rid it of a member who opposed his new ordinance. (Aug 2025)
- Washington County Quorum Court Meeting, August 2025, dissolving board — watch here
- and review the Attorney General’s Opinion, saying such action is illegal — read here.
3-Tripling pay of new Planning Board in their next meeting in an attempt to sway their votes.
- Increased pay from $75/meeting to $300/ meeting.
4-Colluding with his legal team to give his ex-boss $500,000 of taxpayer money, claiming under the current zoning ordinance, the Quorum Court broke federal law by discriminating against their client. (Oct 2024-Dec 2025)
Federal Case: 5:24-CV-05249-TLB, Transcript from Case Management Hearing before Judge Timothy Brooks, on Feb 27, 2025, –
The following are clips from the 42 page transcript of the case management hearing dated February 27, 2025, as the case began with the federal judge, Timothy L. Brooks, and the attorneys involved in the case, including attorney Stephen Zega, who represented parties who had successfully intervened in the state case (same matter)—as he was attempting to intervene in this federal case as well.
The following will be clips of this transcript, which prove that Washington County was denied adequate representation under the law as attorney Brian Lester, representing them, claimed to the Court that his client (WCv) had in fact discriminated against the Plaintiffs as alleged in the complaint, even though the Washington County Planning Board and Quorum Court members denied that fact.
The cause of action upon which this case was based is that the County had discriminated against the Plaintiff under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans for Disabilities Act. Therefore, the admission by Lester as attorney for the Defendant from the beginning of this case (colluding to enter a preliminary injunction—not instigated by the court but RMP and Lester), moving forward, proves the Defendant was denied representation by Attorney Brian Lester.
As such, consideration should be given as to whether a legal claim for malpractice and/or breach of ethics against his law license should be considered, or at a minimum—reason to cause him to step down from his job as attorney for Washington County.
If Lester held the opinion that his client had discriminated against the Plaintiffs, he should have recused himself from this representation.
This case also reflects the bad advice he gave his client when he forced the hearing of the third ordinance without proper notice under the law, even though he had over 3 weeks to do so.
(As a side note, this is not the first occurrence in which the legal community is aware of Lester failing to defend Washington County in a legal action before the Court.)
Likewise, it appears that through his legal advice, he is preparing to prove his client, the Quorum Court, guilty in an upcoming additional dispute (Gulley-CUP denial), if the Quorum Court continues to refuse to allow him and Patrick Deakins to rewrite the zoning ordinance, giving Deakins much more power and discretion.
See the most concerning portions of this transcript below:
Page 25: Mr. Zega in response to the Judge as to whether state case included claim of federal discrimination.
Smoking Gun– Page 26: Mr. Brian Lester (paid advocate for the Quorum Court) tells the Court that his clients are guilty as charged:
Page 28: Clearly the Court is saying if the matter went back to Q Ct and an ordinance was properly passed that held that EagleCrest did not need a CUP, Zega admits his client would have no recourse….It is obvious that Lester and Deakins did not want to risk the QCt doing it that way and preferred to continue this suit…with the bad outcomes for the County.)
Page 32-33 the Court addresses whether it is to the benefit of the public (and justice) to be left without a defender in this case (if he does not allow Zega’s clients to intervene—which he ultimately did not for procedural reasons), since the paid advocate for the county, Brian Lester, has agreed with the Plaintiffs from the beginning of the case (with an agreed preliminary injunction against the Q Ct), that the Q Ct is guilty of discrimination under the law.
Bottom of page 34 and top of page 35, the judge is concerned that it appears the parties have colluded against the public and judge with them since there is no opposing party in this lawsuit. Court admits that the parties are not truly adverse, which being adverse is best… (proving the County went unrepresented in this case—and begs the questions—why did the County stay in Courtwithout legal representation??? And then, “why was the county then required 10 months later to pay the County Judge’s ex-boss, RMP, LLC- $500,000 to settle the case without a trial?”
Pages 39 and 40: In Quorum Court meetings, it should be remembered that after this hearing, Lester and other JPs told the Quorum Court that Judge Brookes had said he would likely rule against the Quorum Courtt. That is not how this transcript reads.
Commentary — Lester did not represent the Washington County Quorum Court well in this case—1) in October 2024 going around the process for legally passing an ordinance (triggering the loss by the County in the state case; and then 2) agreeing with the Plaintiffs rather than recusing representation in the federal case. There are several other cases in which he seeks outside counsel to represent the County. Obviously here there is an interest in Lester staying on this case.
At a minimum, he and Deakins could have sat down with all parties and resolved the matter or let the Quorum Court play out whether they wanted to grant the CUP—Lester basically says here, he doubts that the County will grant the CUP or remove the requirement for the CUP—so he must stay in the case to prevent the County from winning this matter in court.….since he considers their actions illegal.
Bottom line: It appears this case was forced to move forward by the County’s own legal counsel so that Patrick Deakins and Brian Lester could prove the zoning ordinance is bad and needs to be replaced.
The fact that those two claim the current zoning ordinance is illegal has been said may times even when the Q Ct were told by Lester and Deakins they had struck a deal and the County must pay EagleCrest (RMP) $500,000.
It appears Deakins and his legal team will punish the County for not going along with their positions and/or friends.
‘We know the CUP process is indefensible,” Deakins said. “The JPs obstinance is why we’re here. I implore the Quorum Court to settle this and to reform our planning process.” – NWA DemGaz article here
5-His efforts continue Partnering w/Northwest Arkansas Council to hand over control of Washington County.i (SB361-ordin.) Read the NWA Democrat Gazette article about it here.
Define “Myopic” — lacking imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight.
Below, Deakins answers the question, what you think the statutory and constitutional duties of the office of county judge are — Deakins said, “I maintain all the county property. Technically, legally, I own it.”
Read the entire deposition for yourself here.
Patrick Deakins is seeking re-election as Washington County Judge. He is facing two opponents in the Republican primary race. Early voting begins February 17. Election Day is March 3.
ICYMI: “Out-of-Control Spending and a Breakdown in Washington County Leadership”
Pt 1: Washington County Cannot Afford Patrick Deakins!
Judge Patrick Deakins — The Cost of a Politician
Washington County’s New EOC Building – One of the Most Expensive in the Country?
Judge Deakins, What Happened to the Washington County Law Library? $200,000 Missing?
Pt 2: From FOIA Losses to Federal Court: The Lawsuits Surrounding Washington County Leadership
