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| Supreme Court of Arkansas | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of Supreme Court of Arkansas | |
| 34°44′42.6″N92°17′27.5″W / 34.745167°N 92.290972°W /34.745167; -92.290972 | |
| Established | January 13, 1836 (189 years ago) (1836-01-13) |
| Jurisdiction | Arkansas |
| Location | Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 34°44′42.6″N92°17′27.5″W / 34.745167°N 92.290972°W /34.745167; -92.290972 |
| Composition method | Non-partisan election |
| Authorised by | Constitution of Arkansas |
| Appeals to | Supreme Court of the United States |
| Judge term length | 8 years |
| Number of positions | 7 (by statute) |
| Website | arcourts |
| Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Karen R. Baker |
| Since | January 1, 2025 (2025-01-01) |
| This article is part of the series on the |
| Supreme Court of Arkansas |
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| Current membership |
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| Lists of justices |
TheSupreme Court of Arkansas is thehighest court in the state judiciary ofArkansas. It has ultimate and largely discretionaryappellate jurisdiction over allstate court cases that involve a point of state law, and original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases. The Supreme Court holds the power ofjudicial review, the ability to invalidate astatute for violating a provision of theArkansas Constitution. It is also able to strike down gubernatorial directives for violating either the Constitution orstatutory law. However, it may act only within the context of a case in an area of law over which it has jurisdiction.
The Superior Court of the Arkansas Territory was established in 1819. It consisted of three judges, and then four from 1828. It was the highest court in the territory, and was succeeded by the Supreme Court,[1] established by Article Five of the 1836 Constitution, which was composed of three judges, to include a chief justice, elected to eight-year terms by theGeneral Assembly. As later set by Act 205 of 1925, it consists of the Chief Justice of Arkansas and sixassociate justices.[2] The Supreme Court currently operates underAmendment 80 of the Arkansas Constitution. Justices are elected in non-partisan elections to eight-year terms, staggered to make it unlikely the Court would be replaced in a single election.[2] Mid-term Vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment.[2]
Each justice has a single vote in deciding the cases argued before the Court.[2]
The Court meets in the Supreme Court Building inLittle Rock, Arkansas.
| Position | Name | Born | Start | Term ends | Mandatory Retirement[a] | Appointer | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karen R. Baker,Chief Justice | 1963 (age 61–62) | January 1, 2011[b] | 2030 | 2040 | —[c] | UA Little Rock |
| 2 | Courtney Rae Hudson | 1973 (age 51–52) | January 1, 2011[d] | 2032 | 2048 | —[c] | Arkansas |
| 7 | Rhonda K. Wood | (1969-12-10)December 10, 1969 (age 55) | January 1, 2015 | 2030 | 2046 | —[c] | UA Little Rock |
| 5 | Shawn Womack | (1972-08-13)August 13, 1972 (age 53) | January 1, 2017 | 2032 | 2048 | —[c] | Arkansas |
| 4 | Barbara Womack Webb | 1956 or 1957 (age 67–68) | January 1, 2021 | 2028 | 2028 | —[c] | Arkansas |
| 3 | J. Cody Hiland | 1972 (age 52–53) | July 3, 2023[e] | 2026 | 2048 | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) | UA Little Rock |
| 6 | Nicholas Bronni | January 1, 2025 | 2026 | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) | Michigan |
