EDUCATION:
Southern State College (Southern Arkansas University) Magnolia
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, B.S., 1969
Memphis State University Law School, Memphis
University of Arkansas Law School, Little Rock
University of Arkansas Law School, Fayetteville, J.D., 1975 (Course work completed, December 1974)
ATTORNEY LICENSES:
State of Arkansas, 1975
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, 1976
8th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1981
Certified Mediator in all Arkansas Courts
Arkansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission
Mediator Certificate #CRT-2004-13
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
American Bar Association
American Counsel Association
Arkansas Bar Association
Arkansas Bar Foundation, Fellow, Former Director-1988-1998, Member of Trust Committee, 2007-2010
Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association
Arkansas Volunteer Lawyers for the Elderly
Greene-Clay Bar Association, Past President-1978-1979
Legal Services of Northeast Arkansas, Pro Bono Panel Northeast Arkansas Bar Association, Past President -1988-1992
The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
The Fellows of the Young Lawyers (ABA)
Arkansas Conflict Resolution Association
ARKANSAS BAR ASSOCIATION POSITIONS:
President -1996-1997
Young Lawyers Section, Chair-1980-1981
House of Delegates, Tenured Delegate
Executive Council Member, Past member
Board of Governors, ex-officio member, 2010-
Family Law Section, Past Chair
Family Law Section, Legislative Liaison Jurisprudence and Law Reform Committee,
Former Member Social Security Committee, Former Vice Chair Annual Meeting Committee,
Former Member Financial Institution Section, Former Member Domestic Relations Manual Committee,
Past Chair Membership Committee, Past Chair Judicial Council Liaison Committee, 1997
Organization and Redistricting Committee, Chair, 1999-2000
Judicial Article Task Force, 1998-2000
Amendment 80 Implementation Committee, 2000-Present
Committee for Responding to Unfair Criticism of Judge and the Courts, Chair, 2004-present
Governor's Task Force for a New Constitution (1995)
Judicial Election Task Force, 2011-
Bar Leadership Academy, co-chair and faculty member, 2011-
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION POSITIONS:
YLS - Affiliate Outreach Project -Contributing Editor-1980
House of Delegates, Arkansas Bar Association Delegate, 1997-2000, 2010-2011
State Delegate, Arkansas, 2000-2009
Executive Committee, Conference of State Bar Delegates 2003-2006
Nominating Committee of the House, 2000-2009
House Drafting Committee, 2000-2004
House Technology Committee, 2006-2007
Steering Committee of the Nominating Committee, 2004-2006
Steering Committee on the Unmet Legal Needs of Children, 1997
Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements, 2005-2007
Standing Committee on Public Education, 2007 -2010
Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, 2010-
National Conference of Bar Presidents, 1995-Present
Member, ABA Section of Family Law Member, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Member,
ABA Senior Lawyers Division Member, Solo and General Practice Section Member, Task Force on Membership, 2009 -
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES:
AICLE, Board of Directors, Former Member Faculty Member, Fall Legal Institute, Mid-Year Meeting
Annual Meeting, and Practice Skills Seminars Speaker, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association Meetings (four)
Arkansas Professional Practicum faculty member
Best of CLE Speaker's Award (fourteen)
ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS:
Committee on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, 1991-1992
Special Chief Justice, Arkansas Supreme Court, 1988
Family Law Committee on Specialization Supreme Court Committee on Child Support -1985-1994, 1999-2008 (past chair)
Committee on Professional Conduct, 2000-2009 (past Chair of Hearing Panel B)
IOLTA Board of Directors - Former Member
Professional Practicum Faculty Member, 2007-
MAJOR PRACTICE AREAS:
Family Law
Administrative Law
Regional Water Districts
Agricultural Drainage Law
Mediation
GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS:
Commissioner, Arkansas State Claims Commission, 2011-
Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, Past Chair, 1990-91
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, Past Chair-1990-1991
Paragould-Greene County Chamber of Commerce, President-1991-92; Industrial Committee, Past Chair-1994-1995
Community Development Committee, Past Chair Paragould Economic Development Corporation, board member, 2006-;
Chair, Planning Committee
Paragould Parks & Recreation Commission, Past Chair
Paragould Rotary Club, Accompanist and Song Leader; Paul Harris Fellow
Arkansas State University Alumni Association, Past President
Arkansas State University Red Wolves Club (formerly Indian Club) Board of Directors, 2011-
Main Street Paragould, "Loose Caboose" Committee
Arkansas Governors' Mansion Association, Board Member, 2011-
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES:
Arkansas Democratic Party, State Committee, 1976-1990; Executive Committee, 1982-1988; Treasurer, 1986-1988;
Senior Democrats of Arkansas, President, 2011-
Affirmative Action-Delegate Selection Committee, Past Chair
Platform Committee, Past Chair
First Congressional District Caucus, Past Secretary
Alexander for Congress Committee, Campaign Manager
Clinton for Attorney General, County Coordinator
Clinton for Governor, County Coordinator
Clinton for President, County Coordinator, Arkansas Traveler and Arkansas Ambassador to Washington State
Gore for President, Arkansas Counsel, 2000
Democratic Leadership Conference, Delegate, 1978
Democratic National Convention, Alternate Delegate, 1988
Democratic National Convention, Credentials Committee, 1992
Democratic National Convention, Platform Committee, 1996
Democratic National Convention, Delegate, 2000
PROFESSIONAL HONORS:
Best Lawyers in Arkansas, l998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 (The Arkansas Times)
Best Lawyers in America, (Woodward/White, Inc.) 1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012 editions
Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2006, 2008, 2011
Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen Award, Arkansas Bar Association, 2002
Charles L. Carpenter Memorial Award, 2000, for Distinguished Service to the House of Delegates, Arkansas Bar Association
Golden Gavel Award, Arkansas Bar Association
Greene County Volunteer of the Year, Legal Services of Northeast Arkansas, Pro-Bono Panel, 2001
Distinguished Alumnus, 1997, Arkansas State University
Volunteer of the Year, 1995, Industrial Developers of Arkansas
Outstanding Personal Project in Historic Preservation, Arkansas Historical Preservation Alliance, 2011
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
Newspaper Journalist (part time and summers), 1961-1974, Walnut Ridge Times Dispatch, Osceola Times, Jonesboro Sun and Arkansas Gazette
Traveling Secretary (now Educational Consultant) Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Indianapolis, IN, 1969-1970
Congressional Aide, Congressman Bill Alexander (D-Ark),1970-1973, Washington, DC, Little Rock, AR, and Jonesboro, AR
PERSONAL:
Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
Phi Eta Sigma (Scholastic Fraternity)
Phi Alpha Delta (Legal Fraternity)
Current member, First United Methodist Church, Paragould, AR; Member of Church Council, 2010-; Guitarist and vocalist with Bluegrass Praise Band
Former Member, First Presbyterian Church, Paragould, Arkansas; Past Elder, Trustee, and Accompanist (Piano, Organ & Guitar)
Former Counsel to the Presbytery of Arkansas
Married (July 31, 1971) to the former Linda Lou Lipscomb of Blytheville
HOBBIES:
Travel, Photography, Music and Sports
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