Cite as 2009 Ark. 408 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS IN MEMORY OF HONORABLE ERNIE E. Opinion Delivered September 10, 2009 WRIGHT On August 6, 2009, Honorable Ernie Wright of Harrison died at the age of 93. On the occasion of his passing, the Arkansas Supreme Court wishes to acknowledge his life of service to the Arkansas judiciary and to express our sympathy to his wife, Aileen, and his family. In his long and distinguished career, Judge Wright served, either through election or by appointment, as Chancellor, Special Circuit Judge, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court Special Justice. In addition to his duties on the bench, Judge Wright served the Arkansas judiciary as President of the Arkansas Judicial Council. He had the respect and admiration of his fellow judges. Judge Wright’s contributions to the bench and bar began upon his graduation from the University of Arkansas Law School. He enjoyed a successful career in the private practice of law in Mountain Home. Over the course of Judge Wright’s legal career, he served as City Attorney of Mountain Home, Deputy Prosecutor of Baxter County, Prosecuting Attorney of the Sixteenth Circuit, and for over twenty-one years, as Chancellor of the Eleventh Chancery Circuit. In 1979, Governor Bill Clinton appointed him to lead the newly created Arkansas Court of Appeals as its first Chief Judge. Judge Wright’s sense of duty and service extended beyond the judiciary. He resigned as prosecuting attorney to enter the United States Army during World War II and ultimately served in the United States Air Force. In 1996, he chaired a federal land commission on the Buffalo River National Park. The Arkansas Supreme Court joins the attorneys, judges, and citizens of this state in saluting Judge Ernie Wright for a distinguished legal career and for an extraordinarily well-lived life. _____________________________ Chief Justice Jim Hannah _________________________________ _______________________________ Associate Justice Donald Corbin Associate Justice Robert Brown __________________________________ _______________________________ Associate Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber Associate Justice Jim Gunter __________________________________ _______________________________ Associate Justice Paul Danielson Associate Justice Elana Wills
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