Arkansas Supreme Court

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Supreme Court of Arkansas
Seal of the Supreme Court of Arkansas.svg
Arkansas Supreme Court
34°44′42.6″N92°17′27.5″W / 34.745167°N 92.290972°W / 34.745167; -92.290972
EstablishedJanuary 13, 1836
(188 years ago)
 (1836-01-13)
Jurisdiction Arkansas
Location Little Rock, Arkansas
Coordinates 34°44′42.6″N92°17′27.5″W / 34.745167°N 92.290972°W / 34.745167; -92.290972
Composition methodNon-partisan election
Authorised by Constitution of Arkansas
Appeals to Supreme Court of the United States
Judge term length8 years
Number of positions7 (by statute)
Website arcourts.gov/courts/supreme-court
Chief Justice
Currently John Dan Kemp
SinceJanuary 1, 2017 (2017-01-01)

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.

Contents

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.

PositionNameBornJoinedTerm endsMandatory retirement [a] Appointed byLaw school
1 John Dan Kemp , Chief JusticeSeptember 8, 1951 (age 73)January 1, 201720242024 [b] Arkansas
3 Courtney Rae Hudson 1973 (age 5051)January 1, 201120322048 [b] Arkansas
6 Karen R. Baker 1963 (age 6061)January 1, 201120302040 [b] UA Little Rock
7 Rhonda K. Wood December 10, 1969 (age 55)January 1, 201520302046 [b] UA Little Rock
5 Shawn Womack August 13, 1972 (age 52)January 1, 201720322048 [b] Arkansas
4 Barbara Womack Webb 1956or1957(age 66–67)January 1, 202120282028 [b] Arkansas
2 J. Cody Hiland 1972 (age 5152)July 3, 202320242048 Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)UA Little Rock
  1. Justices are prohibited from running for re-election past the age of 70. However, they may serve past 70 to finish the rest of their term where they were previously elected to.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Took office after being elected in a nonpartisan election.

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
3 Courtney Rae Hudson Elected to different seatJanuary 1, 2025
6 Karen R. Baker ElevationJanuary 1, 2025

Further reading

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References

  1. Hempstead, Samuel H. (1856). Hempstead's Reports. p. iii-iv.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Justices of the Arkansas Supreme Court from the official Arkansas Judiciary website