ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT PROCEEDINGS OF FEBRUARY 9, 2023 SHAWN A. WOMACK, JUSTICE CR-22-219. State of Arkansas v. Tyler Pate, from Faulkner County Circuit Court. Dismissed. Special Justice Karen Whatley joins. Wynne, J., not participating.
BARBARA W. WEBB, JUSTICE CR-22-356. Philip Wallace v. State of Arkansas, from Washington County Circuit Court. Affirmed.
ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT PROCEEDINGS OF FEBRUARY 9, 2023 PER CURIAM ORDERS In Re Memory of Chief Justice W.H. “Dub” Arnold. See per curiam this date. On February 1, 2023, W.H. “Dub” Arnold, a Clark County native who served this court with distinction as its chief justice from January 1997 through December 2003, died at the age of 87. The court extends its deepest condolences to his wife, Earlene, and the other members of his family, and we republish the sentiments of his judicial colleagues as expressed upon Chief Justice Arnold’s retirement:
Chief Justice Arnold has been a tireless champion of the independence of the judiciary, yet his advocacy has never been strident or overbearing. Instead, he has sought to persuade through common sense and good humor. These qualities, along with his abiding love for the judicial system and his earnest desire to maintain its distinctive role, are central to Chief Justice Arnold’s life and work.
In re Retirement of Chief Justice W.H. “Dub” Arnold, 355 Ark. App’x 749 (2003) (per curiam).
As Chief Justice, he administered this court’s general superintending control over the state courts. Much work was accomplished during Chief Justice Arnold’s tenure, including: this court’s discharge of its primary responsibility for implementation of amendment 80 to the Arkansas Constitution, which rewrote the judicial article; creation and initial development of the Arkansas Court Automation Project for the ultimate goal of connecting all our state’s circuit courts and district courts into a statewide automated system for case management and public access to case information; construction of the Justice Building’s architecturally significant West Wing; establishment of the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission; evolution of the Arkansas Judiciary website from its 1996 creation into an informative public-information resource about the judicial branch of government.
We remember Chief Justice Arnold for his lifetime of service. Following graduation from Henderson State Teachers College in 1957, and from the Arkansas Law School’s night program in 1963, he commenced a lengthy career in the law during which he variously maintained a private practice, served as Chair of the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission by gubernatorial appointment, and served as Prosecuting Attorney, Municipal Judge, Circuit-Chancery Judge, and Supreme Court Chief Justice by election. He was an accomplished man whose life and work are deeply admired and appreciated by this court.
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ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT PROCEEDINGS OF FEBRUARY 9, 2023 PER CURIAM ORDERS In Re Amended Administrative Plans for Circuit Courts. See per curiam this date. In Re Arkansas Supreme Court Commission on Children, Youth, and Families. See per curiam this date.
Jacob Oliva, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Education; Kristi Putnam, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Human Services; and Keesa Smith, Executive Director, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, are appointed to the Arkansas Supreme Court Commission on Children, Youth, and Families. We thank them for their willingness to serve on this important commission.
The court expresses its gratitude to outgoing members Johnny Key, former Secretary, Arkansas Department of Education; and Rich Huddleston, former Executive Director, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, for their years of valuable service to this commission.
In Re Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Security and Emergency Preparedness. See per curiam this date.
The Honorable Cathy Hardin Harrison, Miller County Judge, of Texarkana and The Honorable Marvin Day, Craighead County Judge, of Jonesboro are reappointed to the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Security and Emergency Preparedness for a term to expire on September 30, 2025. We thank them for their continued service.
The Honorable Stephen Shirron, Circuit Judge, of Grant County is appointed to the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Security and Emergency Preparedness for a term to expire on September 30, 2025. Chance Wright, Fire Chief, of the City of Johnson Fire Department in Washington County is appointed to the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Security and Emergency Preparedness for a term to expire on September 30, 2025. The court extends its appreciation to these new members for their willingness to serve on this important committee.
The court also expresses its gratitude to the following outgoing member, Terry Henson, for his years of valuable service to this committee.
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