The former executive director of the Arkansas court system's Office of Professional Programs is facing 65 felony counts of tampering with a public record, accused of altering bar exam results and destroying the records used to back them up. Nancie Givens oversaw the office responsible for the exam that every prospective Arkansas lawyer must pass before practicing law. Prosecutors say the alleged scheme touched exam scores going back five years.
Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones announced the charges Thursday, saying Givens faces 65 felony counts tied to her time running the professional programs office, according to KARK. Each count is classified as a Class C felony, as reported by KATV. Jones said the charges stem directly from how Givens carried out her official duties, including the alleged alteration of exam results and destruction of supporting records.
Irregularities Traced Back Five Years
The case grew out of a state police investigation into irregularities found in Arkansas bar exam scores administered between July 2020 and July 2025, per the prosecutor. The exam is given twice a year, in February and July, and passing it is a requirement for anyone hoping to practice law in the state. KARK's report notes that, if the charges prove true, Givens may have potentially interfered with up to 10 bar exam outcomes.
Prosecutors have not said whether scores were raised, lowered, or altered in some other way. KATV's report adds that the announcement did not specify how many examination results may have been altered, whether any applicants were directly affected, or whether the alleged irregularities changed who was admitted to the bar. The investigation remains ongoing, according to the prosecutor's office.
Records Sealed as Case Proceeds
Charges against Givens were filed in Pulaski County on Thursday, and Judge Jill Stewart Kamps sealed the court records in the case at the same time, per KARK. Jones said his office will not release further information at this time, citing the need to protect Givens' rights and preserve the integrity of the judicial process. That restriction leaves many basic questions about the scope of the alleged tampering unanswered for now, including how many test-takers may have been affected.
