The chief executive officer for county government in Arkansas is the county judge. As chief executive, the judge authorizes and approves the disbursement of all appropriated county funds, operates the system of county roads, county landfill, administers ordinances enacted by the quorum court, has custody of county property, accepts grants from federal, state, public and private sources, hires county employees except those persons employed by other elected officials of the county, presides over the quorum court without a vote, but with the power of veto. All powers not vested in the county judge as the chief executive officer of the county shall continue to be exercised and administered by the county court, over the county judge shall preside. The county court, in fact, is the county judge sitting in a judicial role.

The county court of each county has exclusive original jurisdiction in all matters.