Bowen resigns appointment as Arkansas Supreme Court Justice
by January 12, 2010 2:58 pm 65 views
Health issues result in yet another resignation of a justice from the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Citing health reasons, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Bill Bowen is resigning the post six days after being sworn in and just months before a May 2010 election to complete a term that expires in 2014.
Bowen, 86, was appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe to the legal post effective Jan. 1 to complete the term of Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber who stepped down for health reasons. A swearing in ceremony was held Jan. 5.
“While this news is a disappointment, my thoughts are first and foremost focused on Bill’s health and well-being,” Beebe said in a statement. “A dedicated and honorable public servant, Justice Bowen expressed to me his regret in not being able to serve his full appointment. We will work quickly to fill this vacancy with another qualified jurist.”
Bowen, a World War II veteran, served as a chief of staff for Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign. Bowen spent 17 years practicing law and 20 years as a bank executive. He became the dean of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law in 1995. The school was renamed in his honor in 2000.
The Arkansas Supreme Court is built around a chief justice and six associate justices. Justices are elected in non-partisan elections, with the terms lasting eight years. The elections are staggered to prevent a wholesale change justices.