Joshua W. Bugeja

A native of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Joshua W. Bugeja has a passion for providing quality legal services at affordable prices. Mr. Bugeja is willing to travel across Northwest Arkansas for little to no additional charge.

• Auto Accident
• Civil Litigation
• General Practice Issues

• Free Consultation
  30 minute free initial consultation with appointment.
• Contingent Fees
  Auto-Accidents are always "no win, no fee"; A small number of other cases may be contingent upon outcome as well.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  To get started on your matter, I accept cash, check, and money order. Depending on the work involved, I am usually able to provide my services at a reasonable up front retainer and affordable monthly payment plan. I offer a 10% military discount on attorney's fees for all hourly/flat fee cases.

Arkansas

Since 2010

8th Circuit

Since 2015

U.S. Supreme Court

Since 2015

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Since 2012

United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

Since 2012

Owner/Attorney (primary position)

Bugeja Law Firm

2010 - Current

I represent private clients in a variety of civil and criminal matters. This is my primary position, despite also working for the Public Defender Commission part-time.

Conflicts Attorney (part-time)

Arkansas Public Defender Commission

2013 - 2016

As a part-time Public Defender, I represent criminal clients who are unable to afford legal representation on their own. Since this is a part-time position, I still operate my private law practice and am available for hire in a variety of practice areas.

Associate Attorney

Meadors Law Firm

2012 - 2012

Due to the Meadors Law Firm closing at the end of June 2012, I went back to operating my own law firm.

University of Tulsa College of Law

J.D. | Law

2006 - 2009

Activities: Student Bar Association Member, Board of Advocates Member, Interstate Law Society Member

University of Central Arkansas

B.A. | Writing Major, Philosophy Minor

2002 - 2006

Activities: U.C.A. Judicial Board Member, Model U.N.

Southside High School

High School Diploma (2002)

2000 - 2002

Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Arkansas

American Society of Legal Advocates

2018

Less than 1.5% of lawyers nationwide are selected each year. More about the selection process can be found here: https://www.societyoflegaladvocates.org/selection-process/

Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Arkansas

American Society of Legal Advocates

2017

Less than 1.5% of lawyers nationwide are selected each year. More about the selection process can be found here: https://www.societyoflegaladvocates.org/selection-process/

Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Arkansas

American Society of Legal Advocates

2016

Less than 1.5% of lawyers nationwide are selected each year. More about the selection process can be found here: https://www.societyoflegaladvocates.org/selection-process/

Sebastian County Bar Association

Member

2011 - Current

Arkansas Bar Association

Member

2010 - 2012

Arkansas Board of Realtors

Realtor

2003 - 2006

New Admittee Survival Guide

Arkansas Bar Association - Young Lawyers Division

2013

Tech Tip: Dual Monitors

Arkansas Bar Association Young Lawyers Section In-Brief Vol. 17 #1

January, 2013

Food Tax Forum - Proposed 1% Prepared Food Tax, Fort Smith, Arkansas

League of Women Voters

Being LGBT in Arkansas: Legal Concerns and Complications, River Valley Pride: Presenters and Poets, Fort Smith, Arkansas

June 12, 2013

River Valley Equality Center

Q. If I have a warrant from county (a) & have an upcoming court date for county (b) can (b) hold me for(a)2come get me

June 4, 2021

A: As a general rule of thumb, yes, the court for one county can serve the warrant for the other and arrest you (to allow the transfer). It does make a difference if the warrant was from another state though since many states, including Arkansas, often don't arrest individuals appearing in their courts for out of state warrants unless those warrants are for felonies. With out of state warrants, there is an extradition process as well, though instead of going off into a potentially unrelated tangent, I won't address that issue (your question seems to imply both of the warrants are for the same state).

Q. Had about 5 or 6 grams of cannabis & an open liquor bottle. Are either of those proper possessions of crime?

June 4, 2021

A: Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-71-218 specifically addresses the criminal offense of "possession of an open container containing alcohol in a motor vehicle." Since your question doesn't provide enough factual details to compare the situation to the statute, it is difficult to state whether or not that is a "proper" charge or not and you should look at the requirements of that statute (known as "elements" of the crime).

A.C.A. § 5-64-215 classifies marijuana as a "Schedule VI Substance." A.C.A. § 5-64-419 specifically addresses unlawful possession of marijuana and, under that statute, the weight in question utilizes ounces, as opposed to grams like your question (make sure not to confuse those by the way as that will make a huge difference in the analysis) to determine misdemeanor vs felony status of that offense. You didn't mention a medical marijuana prescription so I won't delve into that area as it may needlessly complicate this discussion. In any event, it is possible that is also a "proper" charge per the facts presented.

It is entirely possible that a probable cause to search/consent argument may be worth exploring for suppression considerations but, like many criminal defense questions, this analysis is so dependent upon specific facts for the incident and subsequent arrest that I recommend you speak with an attorney who can analyze the case in more detail. ... Read More

Q. Can primary custodian keep child away from other parent when they are grounded?

June 3, 2021

A: Generally speaking, visitation and child punishment are entirely separate issues (though they may seem related). One public policy consideration is that, as a society, we don't want parents effectively penalized due to a child's bad behavior and we don't want child punishment "weaponized" to hurt the other parent by withholding visitation. A similar issue often arises when cell phones/communication devices are taken away from a minor child as a punishment, thereby interfering with the other parent's ability to get in touch with the child while the child is out of their care. The best approach is to typically to try and work those issues out among parents (additional/make-up visitation time is always encouraged by the courts, especially to avoid unnecessary litigation). ... Read More