Arkansas Bar Official Faces 65 Felony Charges Over Alleged Tampering with Exam Results

Nancie Givens, the former executive director of the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Office of Professional Programs, now faces 65 felony charges after reportedly tampering with bar exam results over a five-year period. Givens is alleged to have manipulated scores, transferring points from some examinees to others, including boosting some below the passing threshold to meet it. This action has cast a shadow over the integrity of the examination process and raised questions about the fairness of the outcomes for aspiring lawyers in Arkansas.¹²³

The allegations against Givens extend beyond just altering individual scores. She is said to have changed a passing score to a failing one in at least one instance, highlighting the potential impact her actions could have had on the careers of those affected. Additionally, around 11,400 files containing bar examinee applications, profiles, and exam score sheets were either deleted or became unavailable, adding another layer of complexity to the case.¹²³

According to reports, Givens raised some examinees' scores to the minimum passing score of 270 or higher, ensuring their success despite potentially lower initial results. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that Givens' actions may have caused some examinees to fail who would have otherwise passed, indicating a significant disruption to the standard evaluation process.²³

The Prosecuting Attorney's Office for the Sixth Judicial District charged Givens with 65 counts of tampering with a public record, marking a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings. Meanwhile, state and federal authorities are working diligently to recover and analyze the missing data, aiming to piece together the full picture of what transpired during Givens' tenure.²³

In light of these developments, new testing procedures and security measures were implemented for the February 2026 Arkansas Bar Exam, reflecting a commitment to restoring trust in the system. Despite the ongoing investigation, most Arkansas bar examinees who were informed of their passing status indeed met the required standards, with a 70% pass rate observed for the July 2025 exam.¹²³

Givens' resignation in February 2026 marked the end of her involvement in the controversy, but the criminal investigation initiated by Arkansas State Police and the FBI in April 2026 continues to unfold. As the case progresses, the legal community and the public alike await further revelations about the extent of Givens' alleged tampering and its broader implications for the Arkansas bar examination process.²³

What We Know

• Nancie Givens, former executive director of the Arkansas Supreme Court’s Office of Professional Programs, is facing 65 felony charges.
• Givens allegedly tampered with bar exam results from 2020 to 2025.
• Givens adjusted scores, taking points from some examinees and giving them to others, including raising some below the passing score to meet it.
• Givens changed a passing score to a failing one in at least one instance.
• Around 11,400 files were deleted or became unavailable, mostly containing bar examinee applications, profiles, and exam score sheets.
• Givens raised some examinees' scores to the minimum passing score of 270 or higher.
• At least one examinee's score was lowered from passing to failing due to Givens' actions.
• Givens' actions may have caused some examinees to fail who would have otherwise passed.
• Files should have been retained for 25 years according to Arkansas Supreme Court rules.
• State and federal authorities are working to recover and analyze the missing data.
• For the July 2025 bar exam, there was a 70% pass rate among 244 examinees.
• Givens resigned in February 2026.
• Criminal investigation began in April 2026 by Arkansas State Police and FBI.
• New testing procedures and security measures were implemented for the February 2026 Arkansas Bar Exam.