The Arkansas Supreme Court
The Arkansas Supreme Court is state’s final appellate court and the ultimate arbiter of Arkansas law. The court has appellate and original jurisdiction as defined by the Arkansas Constitution, and it has superintending control over all lower state courts. The jurisdiction of the Arkansas Supreme Court generally is limited to appeals involving the interpretation of the Arkansas Constitution, criminal appeals in which the death penalty or life imprisonment has been imposed, petitions for extraordinary writs, appeals pertaining to elections and election procedures, appeals involving the discipline of attorneys and judges, subsequent appeals following an appeal decided in the Supreme Court, and appeals required by law to be heard by the Supreme Court.
Externships are available with the following members of the Arkansas Supreme Court: Justice Karen Baker and Justice Courtney Rae Hudson. Because of the complex issues considered by the Supreme Court, students are advised that they should have completed the course in Constitutional Law prior to applying for an externship with a justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court.
1. Justice Karen Baker, Arkansas Supreme Court (1 position)
Justice Karen Baker has been an Associate Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court since January 1, 2011. Justice Baker received a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas Tech University in 1983, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School in January of 1987. Justice Baker had a private practice in Clinton for eight years prior to taking the bench, which included six years as a part-time public defender for Van Buren and Searcy Counties. In 1995, Justice Baker was appointed to serve as Second Division, Circuit/Chancery/Juvenile Judge for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, which includes Faulkner, Searcy, and Van Buren Counties. In 1996, Justice Baker was elected to the position of Fourth Division, Circuit/Chancery Judge for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. She was reelected to the same position in 1998. In 2000, Justice Baker was elected Associate Judge to the Arkansas Court of Appeals, District Two, Position Two. She was reelected to this position in 2004. District Two is a large district that includes nineteen counties in central and north-central Arkansas.
An extern serving in Justice Baker’s chambers will work with Justice Baker and her staff. The extern will have the opportunity to develop analytical skills through the preparation of legal memoranda, attendance at oral arguments, and participation in staff meetings. To be eligible to serve as an extern in Justice Baker’s chambers, a student must have excellent writing and research skills and must have successfully completed the course in Constitutional Law. Justice Baker and her staff will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
2. Justice Courtney Rae Hudson, Arkansas Supreme Court (1 position)
Justice Courtney Rae Hudson has been an Associate Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court since January 1, 2011. Justice Hudson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1994. She graduated with high honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1997. Justice Hudson served as a law clerk at the Arkansas Court of Appeals from 1997 to 2005 for Judges Terry Crabtree and Frank Arey. She was elected to the Arkansas Court of Appeals from the third district in 2008. In 2010, she was elected to the Arkansas Supreme Court where she serves as the supervising Justice to the Committee on Professional Conduct. Justice Hudson was awarded the Gayle Pettus Pontz Award by the Women’s Law Student Association at the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2014. In 2018, she was reelected to her current position.
An extern serving in Justice Hudson’s chambers will work with Justice Hudson and her staff. The extern will have the opportunity to develop analytical skills through the preparation of legal memoranda, attendance at oral arguments, and participation in staff meetings. To be eligible to serve as an extern in Justice Hudson’s chambers, a student must have excellent writing and research skills. Successful completion of Constitutional Law is also preferred. Justice Hudson and her staff will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval.
The Arkansas Court of Appeals
The Arkansas Court of Appeals is Arkansas’s intermediate state appellate court. The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over all cases appealed from state courts except for certain types of cases that are specifically required to be filed in the Arkansas Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals hears appeals from criminal cases, civil cases, decisions of the Board of Review, and decisions of the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Twelve judges serve on the Arkansas Court of Appeals.
Externship positions are available with the following members of the Arkansas Court of Appeals: Judge Waymond Brown and Chief Judge Brandon Harrison. For more specific information about the externship positions and each Judge’s individual requirements, please see the detailed externship descriptions below.
1. Judge Waymond Brown (1 position)
Judge Brown currently holds the position of Associate Judge at the Arkansas Court of Appeals. Judge Brown represents District Seven, which includes Jefferson, Chicot, Desha, Arkansas, Saint Francis, Phillips, and Lee Counties. Judge Brown was elected to this position in May 2008 and formally took his seat in January 2009. Judge Brown received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He continued his education by earning a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law.
Judge Brown formerly served as District Judge of Pine Bluff, Arkansas from January 1, 2001 to December 2008. He has also served as chief legal counsel for the Arkansas Employment Security Department; as chief deputy prosecuting attorney and deputy prosecuting attorney for Jefferson and Lincoln Counties; and as tax accountant for Phillips Petroleum Company. Judge Brown was a five-year member of the Arkansas Minority Health Commission. He was appointed by the Supreme Court Chief Justice to serve on the Arkansas Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and the Supreme Court Committee for Continuing Legal Education. Judge Brown is a lifelong resident of Pine Bluff and is a very active member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon. He is a member of the Harold Flowers Law Society as well as the NAACP.
An extern serving in Judge Brown’s chambers will work with Judge Brown and his staff. The extern will have the opportunity to develop analytical skills through the preparation of legal memoranda, attendance at oral arguments, and participation in staff meetings. To be eligible to serve as an extern in Judge Brown’s chambers, a student should have strong writing and research skills, a strong work ethic, and an eagerness to learn.
2. Chief Judge Brandon Harrison (1 position)
Judge Brandon Harrison was elected to the Arkansas Court of Appeals in 2012. Prior to joining the Court, Judge Harrison had his own private practice in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in which he concentrated on civil and criminal appeals and civil litigation. He also is a former law clerk for U.S. District Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. Judge Harrison is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and a Fellow of the Arkansas Bar Foundation. He has published in The Arkansas Lawyer, the Arkansas Law Review, and the newsletter of the Pretrial Practice and Discovery Committee of the American Bar Association. He also is a chapter author for the Arkansas Bar Association’s Handling Appeals in Arkansas practice handbook. A third-generation lawyer, Judge Harrison graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2002, where he served as Executive Editor of the Arkansas Law Review.
An extern in Judge Harrison’s chambers will work with the Judge and his staff on a variety of legal issues. An extern will have the opportunity to develop analytical skills through the preparation of legal memoranda as well as attending oral arguments and participating in staff conferences. To be eligible to serve as an extern in Judge Harrison’s chambers, a student must have excellent writing and research skills. Given the Court of Appeals’ schedule, it would be beneficial for externs to be available to work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Judge Harrison and his staff will interview students recommended for the externship prior to final approval of the placement.
State Trial Courts
Judge Earnest E. Brown, Circuit Judge for the 11th West Judicial Circuit (1 position)
The Circuit Court for the 11th West Judicial Circuit is a state trial court of general jurisdiction that includes Jefferson and Lincoln Counties. Judge Brown hears cases involving juvenile and family law. This position is based in Judge Brown’s Chambers in Pine Bluff so travel to and from Pine Bluff is necessary for this externship. Judge Brown is able to provide a stipend to reimburse students for mileage costs for travel to Pine Bluff. More information about Judge Brown.
A student who applies for this position should have a specific interest in juvenile and family law. An extern in Judge Brown’s chambers will have the opportunity to work with Judge Brown and his staff and observe proceedings such as juvenile delinquency hearings, families in need of services (FINS) petitions, and matters involving the Department of Human Services. Judge Brown also supervises one of the few juvenile drug courts in the State. An extern will also have the opportunity to work with Teen Court, which is a program of the juvenile court. The extern will have hands-on experience working with files and reviewing cases before hearings and will gain familiarity with court practice and procedure. Judge Brown and his staff will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Judge Patricia James, Circuit Judge for the 6th Judicial District, 11th Division (1 position)
The 6th Judicial District, 11th Division Circuit Court is a state court of general jurisdiction focused on a broad spectrum of legal areas, including civil law, drug court, veterans court, and domestic relations for Pulaski and Perry counties. An extern will spend time observing civil and criminal proceedings, including complaint and petition filings, motions, hearings, bench and jury trials, and the inner workings of a state circuit court. The extern will apply their observations, education, and research and writing skills to review cases, draft orders and correspondence. The extern will finish the semester with a rich understanding of the interactions between attorneys, pro se litigants, the Office of the Circuit Clerk, and an Arkansas trial court. Successful applicants will have excellent research and writing skills, a strong interest in public service, and flexibility to focus on a wide variety of subject matter. Judge James will interview students recommended for the externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Judge Amy Dunn Johnson, Circuit Judge for the 6th Judicial District, 15th Division (1 position)
The circuit court for the 15th Division, 6th Judicial District, is a state court of general jurisdiction that primarily hears domestic relations and probate cases in Pulaski and Perry counties. An extern working in this position will gain hands-on experience with cases involving divorce, custody, visitation, child support, guardianships, trust and estate administration, and adoptions. Day-to-day responsibilities will include attending hearings, research, preparation of legal memoranda and draft opinions, and case management. The extern will also work on special projects aimed at improving access to justice for litigants involved in court cases. Qualified externs will have excellent research and writing skills, as well as a strong desire to serve the public. Judge Johnson will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Judge Shanice Johnson, Circuit Judge for the 6th Judicial District, 10th Division (1 position)
The 10th Division Circuit Court is a state court of general jurisdiction that primarily hears juvenile delinquency, dependency-neglect, family in need of services, truancy, and mental health proceedings for Pulaski County and Perry County. The person chosen for an externship in the 10th Division Circuit Court will gain hands-on experience in juvenile, family law, and mental health court matters. The extern will work closely with the Circuit Judge and law clerk. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:
- Attend hearings and review cases for delinquency, dependency/neglect hearings, family in need of services, truancy, and mental health.
- Draft opinions and review opinions submitted by attorneys in dependency/neglect and delinquency cases.
- Conduct legal research and provide the circuit judge with case law when requested.
- Assist with special projects designed to improve court efficiency, access to justice, and recidivism.
- Assist with case management.
Qualified externs will have an interest in juvenile and family law, excellent research and writing skills, and excellent critical thinking skills. Judge Shanice Johnson will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Judge Shawn Johnson, Circuit Judge for the 6th Judicial Circuit, 14th Division (1 position)
The Fourteenth Division of the Sixth Judicial District serves Pulaski and Perry counties and annually hears hundreds of cases primarily involving divorces, child custody, child support, wills, estates, guardianships, and domestic abuse.
As a state court judge, Judge Shawn Johnson’s aim in participating in the externship program is to help future lawyers learn about judicial decision-making. How do the arguments of counsel strike the court? How do certain strategies help or hurt each side’s case? What procedures are best to help litigants navigate the court system? What types of tone and legal strategies are best?
Judge Johnson was a law clerk in the federal courts and practiced primarily before the federal courts while serving the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office. His history is unique for a state judge, and qualified externs will be invited to participate in court chambers by observing hearings, communicating with the judge about the hearings, making recommendations about procedures, working with staff to understand court procedures, conducting legal research, and crafting orders and opinions.
The ideal externship outcome would be an extern who will soon graduate law school with an understanding of the inner workings of a court so that he or she can develop a proper tone in court and in written papers, one who emerges with an ability to craft a judicial order upon request, and one who has a command of the organization of the court and the people of the bench and bar who work within it. Subject-matter interest in domestic relations and probate is not necessary or required. Judge Johnson will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
