|
The
Justices of the Arkansas Supreme Court, in order to
preserve the judicial history of the state, sought
volunteers several years ago to form a historical
society. These founding society members incorporated
the Arkansas Supreme Court Historical Society on December
20, 1999. Established as a non-profit, educational
organization, the society exists primarily to preserve
and disseminate knowledge of the history of the judicial
branch of state government. To help promote its goals
the society has commissioned a series of articles
for The Arkansas Lawyer. These have included
histories of important supreme court decisions and
biographical sketches of supreme court justices. The
biographical series, which began in 2005, has presented
sketches on Elbert English and on Carlton Harris.
The society also sponsors its own newsletter.
At supreme court ceremonies,
the society has received portraits of retired supreme
court justices. Most recently in April of 2005, the
society received portraits of former Chief Justice
W. H. "Dub" Arnold and former Justice Ray
Thornton. The portraits have been placed on display
in the justice building. Further, the society has
cooperated with the Justice Building Exhibits program
to develop conferences on historical topics that compliment
the exhibit themes. This has produced three major
exhibit-conference events: the first on African-American
Attorneys in the state, a second on The Supreme Court
and the Civil War and in September of 2005 a conference
on the history of Arkansas Women in Law. A conference
is also being planned for September of 2006 that will
focus on the history and importance of Arkansas courthouses.
A board of directors
elected by the membership governs the society. Anyone
is welcome as a society member for annual individual
dues of $25.00. Memberships at other dues levels are
also available for students, business partnerships,
corporations and other units. For membership information,
please contact the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society,
Rod Miller, Arkansas Supreme Court Library, 625 Marshall,
Suite 1500, Little Rock AR 72201. E-mail is rod.miller@arkansas.gov
and the phone is 501-682-6879. •
|
