Major General James G. Blunt

The Supreme Court of Arkansas is the highest court in the state judiciary of Arkansas. It has ultimate and largely discretionary appellate jurisdiction over all state court cases that involve a point of state law, and original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases. The Supreme Court holds the power of judicial review, the ability to invalidate a statute for violating a provision of the Arkansas Constitution. It is also able to strike down gubernatorial directives for violating either the Constitution or statutory law. However, it may act only within the context of a case in an area of law over which it has jurisdiction.

The Superior Court of the Arkansas Territory was established in 1819. It consisted of three judges, and then four from 1828. It was the highest court in the territory, and was succeeded the Supreme Court,[1] established by Article Five of the 1836 Constitution, which was composed of three judges, to include a chief justice, elected to eight-year terms by the General Assembly. As later set by Act 205 of 1925, it consists of the Chief Justice of Arkansas and six associate justices.[2] The Supreme Court currently operates under Amendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution. Justices are elected in non-partisan elections to eight-year terms, staggered to make it unlikely the Court would be replaced in a single election.[2] Mid-term Vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment.[2]

Each justice has a single vote in deciding the cases argued before the Court.[2]

The Court meets in the Supreme Court Building in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Membership

There are currently seven justices on the Supreme Court: Chief Justice Dan Kemp and six associate justices.

Seat Name Born Joined Term ends Law school
Chief Justice John Dan Kemp (1951-09-08) September 8, 1951 (age 72) January 1, 2017 2024 Arkansas
2 J. Cody Hiland 1972 (age 51–52) July 3, 2023 2024 UA Little Rock
3 Courtney Rae Hudson 1973 (age 50–51) January 1, 2011 2026 Arkansas
4 Barbara Womack Webb 1956 or 1957 (age 66–67) January 1, 2021 2028 Arkansas
5 Shawn Womack (1972-08-13) August 13, 1972 (age 51) January 1, 2017 2024 Arkansas
6 Karen R. Baker 1963 (age 60–61) January 1, 2011 2030 UA Little Rock
7 Rhonda K. Wood (1969-12-10) December 10, 1969 (age 54) January 1, 2015 2030 UA Little Rock

Further reading

  • Distinguishing the Righteous from the Roguish: The Arkansas Supreme Court, 1836–1874 by J. W. Looney, 2016, University of Arkansas Press

References

  1. ^ Hempstead, Samuel H. (1856). Hempstead's Reports. p. iii-iv.
  2. ^ a b c d Justices of the Arkansas Supreme Court from the official Arkansas Judiciary website

External links