Opinion
11-08-2012
IN RE THE RETIREMENT OF JUSTICE ROBERT L. BROWN
PER CURIAM
Upon his retirement from the Supreme Court of Arkansas after twenty-two years of dedicated service as associate justice, the court recognizes and expresses appreciation to Justice Robert L. Brown.
Justice Brown's scholarship is obvious in the many opinions that he authored over the years. He leaves a large body of well-crafted opinions, including some of the landmark cases of his era, such as Arkansas Department of Human Services v. Cole, 2011 Ark. 145; Lake View School District No. 25 of Phillips County v. Huckabee, 358 Ark. 137, 189 S.W.3d 1 (2004); and Linder v. Linder, 348 Ark. 322, 72 S.W.3d 841 (2002). He has provided counsel and wisdom to more than thirty law clerks and countless interns and externs, providing them with the skills and confidence to pursue their legal careers.
Justice Brown's love of and skill for writing are not limited to his work for the court. They are evidenced by the numerous articles and books that he has authored and by the writing awards he has received for his contributions. He was a student of English literature at the University of the South (Sewanee) and at Columbia University, and during his time as a student at the University of Virginia Law School, he must have encountered the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, whose words, "I cannot live without books," are fittingly appropriate for Justice Brown. He was recognized by the University of the South in 2006 with its Distinguished Alumni Award. We can look forward to the books that he will pen in the coming years.
Prior to joining the court, Justice Brown practiced law, taught, and served as a deputy prosecuting attorney. He was Administrative Assistant to Congressman Jim Guy Tucker, Legislative Assistant to Senator Dale Bumpers, and Legal Aide to Governor Dale Bumpers. While on the court, he has served our community and the legal profession in a variety of ways, including service as liaison for the Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program for which he received the Robert L. Brown Community Support Award in 2010, as liaison to the Supreme Court Criminal and Civil Practice Committees, and as liaison to the Supreme Court Board of Law Examiners. He served as chairman of the Arkansas Bar Association's Task Force on Judicial Elections and was the recipient of the Arkansas Bar Association's C.E. Ransick Award for Excellence in 2007—2008.
We know that his civic involvement will not end when he leaves us. We look to his continued leadership with regard to Arkansas judicial elections. He has been a friend and colleague to all who have served during his tenure and will be greatly missed. _________________
Chief Justice Jim Hannah
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Associate Justice Jim Gunter
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Associate Justice Karen Baker
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Associate Justice Donald Corbin
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Associate Justice Paul Danielson
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Associate Justice Courtney Goodson