Forty Under 40: Courtney Hudson Henry

Courtney Henry, 37, spent her time in undergraduate school studying art; now she studies the art of the justice system.

She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas in 1994 with a bachelor’s in art, but she started law school right away, graduating with high honors in 1997.

“I knew that I wanted to be an attorney, that I wanted to be a part of the justice system, because early on a good judge made a difference in my life,” she said.

Henry met her husband in law school and with the bar exam behind them, they landed jobs in Little Rock. She was a law clerk at the Arkansas Court of Appeals from 1997 to 2005 where she reviewed or worked with more than 1,300 cases. After eight years, the couple moved back to Fayetteville and started a practice with the Henry Law Firm. In May 2008 Henry was elected as a judge to the Court of Appeals, which she said is her most cherished achievement to date.

Currently, Henry is campaigning for a seat as a justice with the Arkansas Supreme Court and is working on her master of laws degree from the UA.

The appellate court is the court of last resort and where difficult situations come for resolution, Henry said.

“It is an honor and my privilege to be a voice for justice,” she said. “That’s what gets me up early and keeps me at work late.”