Arkansas Legal History Society, Inc.

01/09/2021

This video is featured by the Old State House Museum (Little Rock, AR) in its permanent exhibit, which opened August 27, 2020, about the Arkansas Supreme Court.

This video plays in the Arkansas Supreme Court exhibit at the Old State House Museum.

01/09/2021

January 8, 1958

On this day 62 years ago, Jim Johnson files a proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that would allow for district authorities to close schools that were facing court-ordered integration efforts.

James Johnson, an Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and State Senator, was born in Ashley County, Arkansas in 1924. Beginning in the 1950’s, Johnson would run for a number of political offices ranging from Senator to Governor on the platform of segregation.

Johnson was a lifelong opponent of integration efforts around the United States and especially in Arkansas. When the schools in Hoxie, Arkansas integrated in 1955, he proposed the state adopt an amendment to its constitution prohibiting school integration. In Little Rock during the desegregation crisis of 1957, Johnson encouraged Governor Faubus to call out the Arkansas National Guard by fabricating reports of “caravans” that were “lining up” and “coming in droves."

Later, Johnson admitted that “There wasn't any caravan. But we made Orval believe it." Johnson believed that “the only weapon we had [against school integration] was to leave the impression that the sky was going to fall." Despite Johnson’s efforts, Little Rock Central High proceeded with its court ordered integration.

Following these failures, Johnson settled into an eight-year term as a Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court. In 1966, he surrendered his seat at the bench in order to chase after a spot in the race for Governor of Arkansas. Johnson failed to secure the governorship and spent the ensuing decades in a number of unsuccessful races for political positions, with his final race ending in 1984.

National Park Service History Midwest National Parks U.S. Department of the Interior

Photo of Jim Johnson - courtesy Equal Justice Initiative

09/20/2020

This document from 1844 is a summons for the Arkansas Supreme Court. The Supreme Court met in the building now known as the Old State House Museum for more than 70 years. The museum recently opened an exhibit dedicated to the Arkansas Supreme Court. You can visit the museum between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday to see the exhibit and learn about the history of the Arkansas Supreme Court.

09/17/2020

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/sep/17/uapb-host-judge-online/?news-arkansas

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will host a virtual program with Chief Judge Lavenski R. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

09/15/2020

We are sharing the following message and video from the Arkansas Bar Association President Paul Keith:

"Constitution Day is Thursday, September 17, 2020.

The Legal Related Education Super Committee of the Arkansas Bar Association is proud to present a Constitution Day video for this year's Constitution Day, explaining the legal system, how it works, and the rule of law. This video describes the basic framework of the legal system today, details the basic rights guaranteed by our Constitution and provides an overview of the three branches of government.

Please take a few minutes to watch this video. I think you will agree that it is important that we share this information with our children. Please share this video, by copying the link and sending it to your local schools districts, school administrators and anyone else you deem proper.

This video has been added to our YouTube page [at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbUlw0GDHb0].

The Constitution Day video is moderated by Anthony McMullen. Anthony is chair of the Mock Trial Committee for the Arkansas Bar Association and serves as Director of Forensics at the University of Central Arkansas.

Speakers who made this video possible include the Honorable Dan Kemp, Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, the Honorable Courtney Hudson, Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, the Honorable Mary McGowan, Circuit Judge for the 6th Judicial Circuit Court, Senator Kim Hammer, Theresa Beiner, Dean of the UA Little Rock Bowen School of Law, Tamera Deaver, Assistant Public Defender for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Chad Cu***ng, attorney at Gill, Ragon, Owen, P.A., and Chris Hussein, chair of the Young Lawyers Division & attorney at Legal Aid of Arkansas. We all owe these speakers a debt of gratitude.

And, we extend a special thank you to Beverly Brister, chair of the Legal Related Education Super Committee, as well as Association staff, who went above and beyond in making this project possible.
Thank you.

------------------------------
Paul Keith
Gibson & Keith, PLLC
Monticello, AR
870-367-2438"

The Legal Related Education Super Committee of the Arkansas Bar Association presents this Constitution Day video, explaining the legal system, how it works, ...

09/09/2020

08/21/2020

08/19/2020

The Old State House Museum will offer a virtual opening for its new exhibit "Arkansas Supreme Court" on Thursday, August 27, 6:00PM. The virtual opening will be a video tour with Guest Curator Ernie Dumas and Old State House Museum Director Bill Gatewood, answering questions asked by Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice-Elect Barbara Webb. The tour may be viewed at the Old State House Museum's page and its website (both as a live event and as a recorded video).

Effective Friday, August 28, the exhibit will be available to the Museum's in-person visitors during its regular business hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM.

We hope you enjoy the exhibit, and heartily thank the Old State House Museum staff and our own Historical Society volunteers for all their hard work on the project!