Lieutenant Colonel
Craighead County District Judge
Lieutenant Colonel “Judge” Keith Blackman commissioned from Arkansas State University in 1971, designated a Distinguished Military Graduate as a Second Lieutenant branched Air Defense Artillery. Lt. Blackman's entry on active duty was delayed so that he could attend law school at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He graduated there in the spring of 1974 with his Juris Doctorate degree.
Blackman served in multiple command and staff positions including Commander 346th Ordnance Company, Commander 318th Military Intelligence Detachment, S2/3 for the 348th Chemical Battalion, Executive Officer for the 468th Chemical Battalion, S2 for the 460th Chemical Brigade. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, taking a position as a Command and General Staff College instructor in the 100th Division. Throughout his military career he garnered an unprecedented four separate branch qualifications in Air Defense Artillery, Ordinance, Military Intelligence and Chemical Corps. LTC Blackman celebrated a 27 year career with the US Army retiring in 1998.
Blackman’s 40 year legal career started upon his release from active duty and continued until his retirement in December 2016. He began his career as an associate then partner in a prestigious Jonesboro law firm before going into private practice. Judge Blackman reached the apex of his legal career in 2005 when he was elected as the Craighead County District Judge. As judge he spent 12 years improving the court system to include innovative ideas such as Video Court, DWI Court, and Veterans Court dealing with veterans who have legal issues which are often exacerbated by military related circumstances such as PTSD.
