James Robert Hannah

Date Elected or Appointed to Current Position:
2004
Education:
Harrison High School University of Arkansas School of Law - JD University of Arkansas - BSBA (Accounting)
Law-Related Employment:
City Attorney for Augusta, Bradford, Des Arc, Garner, Kensett, and Rosebud; Searcy City Attorney (1969-1978); Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Woodruff County.
Law Practice or Teaching Areas:
Private Law Practice/Lightle, Tedder, Hannah & Beebe Law Firm (Searcy); National Judicial College, faculty advisor; Harding University, former instructor.
Prior Judicial Experience:
City Judge for Kensett and Rosebud; White County Juvenile Court and the Juvenile Probate Office, Est. & Implemented; White County Juvenile Judge (1976-1978); Chancery/Probate Judge, 17th Judicial District (1979-1999); Associate Justice, Arkansas Supreme Court, Position 5 (2001-2004); Chief Justice, Arkansas Supreme Court, Position 1 (2005 to present).
Associations:
Conference of Chief Justices, president; National Center for State Courts, Chair of the Board of Directors; State Justice Institute, board member; Arkansas Judicial Council, past president and board member; Arkansas Bar Association; Conference of Chief Justices, past board member; Chair of Conference of Chief Justices Committee on Courts, Children & Families; Conference of Chief Justices Judicial Excellence Committee, member; Conference of Chief Justices Government Affairs Committee, member; American Bar Association Fellow; Committee on Federal - State Jurisdiction of the Judicial Conference of the United States, member; Executive Session for State Court Leaders, Harvard, University.
Publications:
Forgotten Law and Judicial Duty, 70 Alb. L. Rev. 829 (2007).
Other:
Court Leadership Symposium, Harvard, University; Innovations in Governance, Harvard, University; Ozark Ambassador Award, North Arkansas College Foundation; American Judges Association, past member