George Howard Jr., 82, the first black federal judge in Arkansas, who was the presiding judge for several cases related to the Whitewater investigation of the 1990s, died Saturday at a hospital in Pine Bluff, Ark., the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
The family did not give the cause of death.
Before he was named U.S. District Court judge in 1980, Howard was appointed to the Arkansas Supreme Court and earlier, the Court of Appeals.
He also served on the state Claims Commission for 11 years. He was the first black man to hold each of the positions in Arkansas.
The Whitewater cases involved a failed land deal in Arkansas and implicated former Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker.
In separate trials, Tucker and Susan and James McDougal were convicted of fraud and conspiracy charges.
Howard called President Clinton, a partner of the McDougals in the Whitewater deal, to testify as a defense witness in their case.
Clinton testified on videotape and was not charged with any crime.
Howard was born in Pine Bluff on May 13, 1924. He served in the Navy during World War II and later graduated from Lincoln University in Missouri and the University of Arkansas law school.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
By continuing, you agree to ourTerms of Service and ourPrivacy Policy.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
Taped Jan 8, 2026, a year after the Eaton Fire, this episode features Ondi Timoner. After losing her home, she began documenting the displacement and financial struggles of her neighbors, joining My Tribe Rise to help Altadena rebuild and recover.
Attorney Frank Carson defended the accused for decades. Framed for murder and later acquitted, a star witness admitted he lied. Stanislaus County paid $22.5M to settle his estate’s lawsuit.
Hear from the winner of the 1968 Caltech vs MIT electric car race. But it’s not all fresh air: smog devastates communities of color, and the Trump administration may pull the plug on California’s ability to clear its own air.
