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

Arkansas

Justice

Arkansas Supreme Court

2001 - Current

Chief Justice since 2004

Chancery/Probate Judge

17th Judicial District, Arkansas

1977 - 1979

Juvenile Judge

White County, Arkansas

1976 - 1978

City Attorney

Searcy, Arkansas

1969 - 1978

University of Arkansas School of Law

J.D. | Law

University of Arkansas School of Law

undergraduate degree | Accounting

Arkansas State Bar

Member

Current

Conference of Chief Justices

President

Current

National Center for State Courts

Chair of the Board of Directors

Current

State Justice Institute

Board Member

Current

Arkansas Judicial Council

Board Member and Past President

Current

American Bar Association

Fellow

Current

Forgotten Law and Judicial Duty

Alb. L. Rev.

2007