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Bar Exam

Arkansas Bar Official Allegedly Transferred Points from Some Bar Examinees to Others

Eugene Volokh | 11.7.2026 11:33 AM

From the Arkansas Supreme Court Thursday:

Evidence exists that Givens harvested points from a number of examinees' scores and then added them to other examinees' scores within the same test administration. Thus, she unilaterally elevated some examinees' scores to the minimum passing score of 270 or greater. Brech also identified at least one instance in which score alterations may have reduced an examinee's score-who otherwise would have passed-to a failing score. And in at least one instance, the individual who should have received the top score on the Arkansas Bar Examination had their score reduced thereby naming another examinee as the recipient of the highest score on the exam. If these allegations are true, these actions constitute an unprecedented breach of public trust.

The full statement from the court:

An internal review by Robert Brech, Executive Director of the Supreme Court of Arkansas's Office of Professional Conduct and Programs, has uncovered extensive irregularities involving the Court's Office of Professional Programs and the administration of the Arkansas Bar Examination. The matter was turned over to state and federal authorities.

As of today, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for the Sixth Judicial District filed formal criminal charges against Nancie Givens for 65 counts of tampering with a public record under Arkansas Code........

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