Judical Discipline and Disability Commission

BIOGRAPHIES of the
JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE & DISABILITY COMMISSION

CHAIRMAN
JUDGE LEON N. JAMISON
Pine Bluff , Arkansas

VICE CHAIRMAN
ATTORNEY JOHN EVERETT
Fayetteville , Arkansas

REV. MAXINE ALLEN - (PUBLIC ALTERNATE MEMBER) is the first African American woman to be Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church in Arkansas. The daughter of Charles and Ruby Wilkerson, she attended and graduated from Little Rock public schools. Allen holds a degree in Philosophy and Religion from Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas; and a Master of Divinity Degree from Interdenominational Theological Center�s Gammon Seminary (UM), Atlanta, Georgia. Currently she serves as the Minister of Missions and Ethnic Ministries for The Arkansas Conference of The United Methodist Church. She has served as a pastor, a teacher of religion, a mentor of young clergy, and participated in mission trips to Haiti, Jamaica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Russia. She has two adult children and a granddaughter. She is an advocate for educational opportunity for all, women�s and children�s issues, and has served on the Minority Teacher Recruitment Council as an appointee of Governor Huckabee, Rev. Allen was appointed to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in 2007 by Governor Mike Beebe.

H. WILLIAM ALLEN - (ATTORNEY MEMBER) is an attorney in Little Rock and owner of Allen Law Firm, P.C. He attended Brinkley, Arkansas public schools before earning a B.A. degree in 1966 from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He obtained his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1969. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago before returning to Arkansas to practice law in 1971. He has served as president of the Pulaski County Bar Association and has received its Outstanding Lawyer Award (1985) and its Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award.(2006). He has been chair of both the Arkansas and American Bar Association Committees on Ethics, and served on the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, chairing its Finance Committee in 2005-2006. He is a former member of the board of the American Judicature Society. He was the Eighth Circuit member of the American Bar�s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary (1995-2001), President of the American Bar Foundation (1988-90) and Vice-President and member of the board of Central Arkansas Legal Services (1995-2000). He is an Elder at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock and former Vice-President and member of the board of Wildwood Center for the Performing Arts. Mr. Allen was appointed to the Commission in 2007 by Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter.

MARY H. BASSETT � (PUBLIC ALTERNATE MEMBER) is Co-Owner and Executive Broker of Bassett Mix and Associates, Inc. Real Estate Company in Fayetteville. She has been licensed as a realtor since 1984. From February 2004 until March 2005, she has served as a chairman of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission. Mary was appointed to two 3 year terms and as a member of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) was elected vice-chairman of the Commission Training Board. She has served in numerous real estate related positions including past President and Realtor of the Year for the Fayetteville Board of Realtors, chairman of Risk Reduction Committee for AR Realtors Assoc. (ARA), ARA Director-at-Large, ARA Education Committee, ARA Professional Standards Committee, ARA Nominating Committee, taught statewide education seminars on real estate ethics as sponsored by ARA, and was chosen six times to represent the State of Arkansas in development and item writing of the Arkansas and National Real Estate exams thru ASI and Promissor. Realtor designations that Mary holds are Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI), and ARA Life Member Multi-Million Dollar Club. Mary is married to Hank Broyles and has two children, John Bassett and Jennifer Bassett-Stumaugh.

ROGER CARTER – (PUBLIC ALTERNATE MEMBER) is a native of Ozark, Arkansas and has lived in Hot Springs since 1966. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He then graduated from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with a B.S. degree. He worked as Staff Assistant to Harry L. Oswald, Arkansas State Electric Cooperatives, and in 1973 purchased Aluminum Arts of Arkansas. Although semi-retired, he is still active in the Company. He is president of the Shepherd Center of Hot Springs and on the board of the Salvation Army. He is Vice-Chairman of Community Counseling Services; a member and past President of Oaklawn Rotary; an active member of Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, and last year was nominated for Man of the Year. Mr. Carter and his wife, Jeanie, are members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he twice served on the Vestry.

CHARLES F. (CHUCK) DEARMAN, JR. – (PUBLIC MEMBER) is a lifelong resident of Monticello, Arkansas. He is married to the former Cindy Eubanks of Monticello and has two children, Haley a sophomore at UA Fayetteville and Chad a junior at Monticello High School. Mr. Dearman is a 4th generation owner of Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home, Inc. of Monticello. He is a member of National Funeral Directors Assoc., Past President of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Assoc., Past President of the Southeast Arkansas Funeral Directors Assoc. He is also a commercial real estate developer. Mr. Dearman is a member of Selected Funeral & Life Insurance Company Board of Directors located in Hot Springs, is the Current President of the Monticello School Board and has served on the Monticello School Board for 10 years (two terms as President), He is a member of First United Methodist Church of Monticello, having served as Administrative Board Member and Chairman of Pastor Parish Relations Committee, Mr. Dearman is a former member of Monticello/Drew County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a former President of the Drew County United Way, He currently serves as a member of Union Bank Board of Directors. Chuck Dearman was appointed to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission by Governor Mike Beebe in 2007.

JOHN C. EVERETT - (ATTORNEY MEMBER-VICE CHAIR) is an attorney living in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He graduated from Arkansas Polytechnic College in Russellville, Arkansas with a B.A. degree in political science and economics. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas in 1970. He is a member of the Washington County Bar Association, the American Board of Trial Advocates, where he has previously served on the National Board of Directors, and is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was on active duty in the United States Navy from 1970 through 1974 as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. He was a member of the Prairie Grove School Board for approximately eight (8) years and is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He was appointed to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in August 2000 by Lieutenant Governor Winthrop P. Rockefeller. Mr. Everett was reappointed to the Commission in 2007 by Speaker of the House Benny Petrus replacing Attorney Michael Gott.

BILL FLY � (PUBLIC MEMBER) is a rice and soybean farmer, living in Stuttgart, Arkansas. He attended the University of Arkansas for two years before joining the Regular Army in 1967 and serving in the Vietnam War. He was the recipient of a Bronze Star, Air Medal, Commendation Medal and Achievement Medal together with three Battle Ribbons for the 1968 Tet Offensive. He resumed his education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville after his discharge from the Army and received a Degree in Business Administration in 1972. He served as a Bank Examiner for the State of Arkansas during the year 1973, then returned to his family farm near DeWitt, Arkansas, were he continues to farm. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Rice Belt Vocational Technical School in DeWitt, Arkansas by appointment of Governor Bill Clinton, who also appointed him as a member of the Architecture Board of the State of Arkansas. He was appointed for two terms on the Engineers and Land Surveyors Board of the State of Arkansas by Governor Jim Guy Tucker, and was appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee as a member of the Arkansas Rural Development Commission in July 2004, before being appointed by Governor Huckabee as a member of the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in June of 2005. He also has served by appointment of Governor Huckabee as a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Critical Groundwater Study for the State of Arkansas. He also has served three terms on the Arkansas Rural Development Commission by appointment of Jay Bradford, Mike Beebe, and Jim Hill, respectively, during their respective terms as President ProTem of the Arkansas Senate. Mr. Fly has also served as a member of the Quorum Court of Arkansas County, Arkansas for the years, 2003 and 2004; and prior to his service on the Quorum Court, he served ten years as an Alderman for the City of DeWitt, Arkansas. He has also served for a number of years as a member of the Board of Directors of Arkansas County Farm Bureau. Mr. Fly is a member of First United Methodist Church of DeWitt, Arkansas where he served on the Administrative Board and Finance Committee.

REGINALD DUANE HAMMAN (PUBLIC MEMBER) - is a graduate of the University of the Oklahoma. He is a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Park Hill Baptist Church. Mr. Hamman is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Family Council. In 1990 he served as Metro Chairman for the Christian Business Men�s Committee. From 1966 to 1970 he served in the United States Air Force as a cartographer with a top secret clearance. During 1987-1988, he was employed by Worldwide Pictures, the Billy Graham Film Ministry. He also served as Vice President, DAD, the Family Shepherd. Mr. Hamman was appointed to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in December 1997 by Governor Mike Huckabee, and was reappointed in June 2000 for a second term. Mr. Hamman and his wife Glenda have two sons, Kevin of Little Rock and Kyle and his wife Shannon of Chicago. Mr. Hamman was reappointed to the Commission by Governor Mike Huckabee in 2006.

JUDY SIMMONS HENRY � (ATTORNEY ALTERNATE MEMBER) is a partner with the law firm of Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP where she chairs the business litigation practice. She was born in Texarkana, Arkansas. She has a B.S.E. from the University of Central Arkansas and an M.E. from the University of Arkansas. Mrs. Henry also received her J.D. from the University of Arkansas in 1984. She was an intern for U.S. Senator David Pryor, Washington, D.C., and a law clerk for U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, Judge James G. Mixon. Her affiliations include the American Bar Association (Business Law Section), Arkansas Bar Association (Debtor-Creditor Rights Committee, Chair 2002-2003; Business Law Committee, Chair 2005); Pulaski County Bar Association, Debtor-Creditor Bar Association of Central Arkansas (Vice President/President-Elect 1990, President 1991). Ms. Henry serves as faculty member of Arkansas Professional Practicum 2005-2006. She has served as a Special Justice to Arkansas Supreme Court. Ms. Henry is a member of the Baptist Health Board of Trustees, former board member of The Children�s Museum of Arkansas, active in Volunteers in Public schools and former member of Arkansas Children�s Hospital Committee for the Future. She is author of the publication, Recovery of Creditors� Costs From the Bankruptcy Estate: Reasonable, Necessary, and...Uncertain?; editor/writer, Debtor-Creditor Bar Association of Central Arkansas Newsletter from 1985 - 1999; contributing editor, Arkansas Bankruptcy handbook; co-author, �Don�t Let Your Bankruptcy Cases Bankrupt You�Keep on Top of Bankruptcy Cases,� The Community Connection, Arkansas Community Bankers Association. Ms. Henry was appointed to this Commission by Attorney General Mark Pryor in 2001. Honors include The Best Lawyers in America (2005;2006); Outstanding Lawyer in America (2003, 2004, 2005); recognized as Arkansas Best of CLE by the Arkansas Bar Association (1998-2006); and recognized as Super Lawyer for Southern Region of the United States in field of business litigation and recognized as one of the Top 50 lawyers in Arkansas.

LEON N. JAMISON � (JUDGE MEMBER � CHAIR) lives in Pine Bluff and has been a judge for Jefferson and Lincoln Counties since January 1993. The Arkansas Supreme Court appointed him to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission on February 20, 1997. Judge Jamison received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1970 and 1975 respectively. He practiced law in Pine Bluff from March 1976 to December 1992. He is a member of the Arkansas Judicial Council, Arkansas Bar Association, and the W. Harold Flowers Law Society. Judge Jamison is also a member of the Jefferson County Bar Association, where he served as President. Judge Jamison is a member of the St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church; he teaches the men�s bible class of his church�s Sunday School. He is a former member and past president of the Jenkins Center Board of Pine Bluff and the Pine Bluff Planning Commission. He served on active duty in the United States Army from May 1970 to August 1973. Judge Jamison was a member of the Army Reserve or Arkansas Army National Guard from June 1974 to July 1997. He retired from the Arkansas Army National Guard with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Expert Infantryman�s� Badge, and the Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal.

JERRY LARKOWSKI – (ATTORNEY ALTERNATE MEMBER) is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Arkansas in 1976 at the age of ten. Jerry attended Catholic High School for Boys, in Little Rock. In 1984, he graduated magna cum laude, ranked 6th in his class, out of 188 fellow students. Jerry earned a B.A. in history at Hendrix College in Conway in 1988, including some study overseas at the University of London. He then attended the UALR School of Law and earned his J.D. in May 1991. While at the law school, he tutored elementary students from the Granite Mountain projects at the Watershed Program on Wednesday nights. This work earned him the 1989 Governor’s Volunteer Excellence Award from then-Governor Bill Clinton. Since receiving his law license in August of 1991, Jerry served Pulaski County as a deputy prosecutor for four years. Jerry started his own practice eleven years ago and has sat as a special judge in eight of our circuit and district courts. Following the problems with elections in this county during 2002, he was appointed to the Pulaski County Election Commission in 2003, where he served as its Chairman for 2 1/2 years. Jerry was elected president of the Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in 2002, the third-largest statewide bar association, and he currently serves on the House of Delegates for the Arkansas Bar Association. He is also a member of the Pulaski County Bar Association. Jerry is a co-founder of the Briarwood Area Neighborhood Association, starting it from scratch in 1997. In the 5 years that followed, he served as its first vice-president, and then as its president. Since 2003, Jerry has been a volunteer in cub scouting, currently leading Pack 7 as cub master. In 1993, Jerry married the former Ann Pollard of North Little Rock. They live with their two boys, Colin, 10, and Trevor, 6 in the Pleasant Hill / Hall High area.

DAVID N. LASER – (JUDGE ALTERNATE MEMBER) lives in Jonesboro, and is a circuit Judge for Division 9, 2nd Judicial Circuit. The Arkansas Supreme Court appointed him to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in December 2002 to complete the term of Judge John Plegge, who retired December 31, 2002. Judge Laser received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He practiced law with W. K. Grubbs, Sr., in Eudora, Arkansas, and with Bon McCourtney & Associates in Jonesboro before joining the firm of Frierson, Walker, Snellgrove and Laser where he practiced from 1968 until elected judge in 1998. He is a member of the Arlap Commission and served on the Jonesboro School Board. Judge Laser is a member of the American Bar Association, past delegate to the Arkansas Bar Association, and served as President of the Craighead County Bar Association and of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

VICTORIA K. MORRIS (ATTORNEY ALTERNATE MEMBER) is an attorney/partner in the firm of Tim R. Morris and Victoria K. Morris, P. A. who lives in Rogers, Arkansas. She is a native of Alva, Oklahoma. She received her B.A. degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 1983 and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma School of Law in 1986. While attending law school at the University of Oklahoma, she was a legal intern for Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Turpin and then worked at the District Attorney’s Office for Bob Macey in Oklahoma City before coming to Arkansas in 1986. She has been in private practice since 1988 after a brief period with the Prosecutors Office in Fayetteville. She and her husband practiced law in Benton County, Arkansas with their partner, Carl Minehart, until her husband, Tim Morris, and Carl Minehart’s untimely death in an airplane in March, 2002. She has been a sole practitioner since March, 2002, member of the Benton County Bar, Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce, licensed U. S. Federal District Court and Veteran’s Administration Court. She annually judges the University of Arkansas Law School Moot Court competition. She is the founder of Ele’s Angels Mentoring for Teenage Girls and is a licensed Foster Parent for the State of Arkansas. She is a member of the Fellowship Bible Church, Lowell, Arkansas. She has held various chairmanship for local PTA and was awarded the PTA Lifetime membership. She was appointed to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission as an alternate in August, 2005 by Lieutenant Governor Winthrop P. Rockefeller.

STEPHEN ROUTON – (JUDGE ALTERNATE MEMBER) has served as the St. Francis County District Court Judge in Forrest City since 1991. He earned a B.A. degree in 1976 from Hendrix College. He attended University of Arkansas Fayetteville School of Law, graduated and was admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 1979. Judge Routon has been in private law practice in Forrest City since 1979 and has two sons, Stephen, age 21 and David, age 18. Judge Routon was appointed to the Commission by the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2002 to fill the unexpired term of alternate member Judge Leon Jamison.

DERRICK W. SMITH (ATTORNEY MEMBER) is an attorney in Little Rock, Arkansas. A native of Marianna, Arkansas, he received his B.A. degree in 1997 from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Mr. Smith received his Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 2000 where he served as Assistant Executive Editor of the Law Journal and President of the Student Bar Association. After serving as a law clerk for the Honorable Olly Neal of the Arkansas Court of Appeals, Mr. Smith joined the law firm of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. He is a member of St. Mark Baptist Church and serves on the boards of Youth Home, Inc. and 100 Black Men of Greater Little Rock. He is also vice chairperson of the Hendrix College Alumni Association Board of Governors and Secretary/Treasurer of the Young Lawyers Section of the Arkansas Bar Association.

WILLIAM A. STOREY - (JUDGE MEMBER) has been a Circuit Judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit since 1991. He was a Circuit/Chancery Judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Judicial Division from 1989 - 1991. Judge Storey is a 1965 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a B.A. in history and government. He received his law degree from the University of Arkansas Law School in Fayetteville in 1968. Judge Storey practiced general law in Fayetteville from 1968 until 1989, when he began his judgeship as Circuit/Chancery Judge. He served on the Administrative Board of the Central United Methodist Church, on the Salvation Army Advisory Board, as Chair of the Washington County Election Commission, and a member of the Arkansas Judicial Council Board of Directors. Judge Storey was also a lecturer at the University of Arkansas Law School. He is a member of the Washington County Bar Association, where he served as President in 1977, the Arkansas Bar Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Judge Storey was appointed to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission by the Arkansas Supreme Court in May, 2000.

JOYCE WILLIAMS WARREN (JUDGE ALTERNATE MEMBER) Joyce Elise Williams Warren is the first black person ever elected to a state level trial court judgeship in the State of Arkansas. She currently serves as 10th Division Circuit Judge for the 6th Judicial District, which comprises Pulaski and Perry Counties, Arkansas, where she presides over juvenile and domestic relations cases. Educational preparation for Judge Warren's career was attained at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where Judge Warren received a B.A. In Sociology and Anthropology. She was the first black female graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, completing her Juris Doctor Degree in 1976. She has done graduate work at the Summer College for Juvenile and Family Court Judges at the University of Nevada at Reno. In 2002, Judge Warren earned a Diploma of Judicial Skills through the American Academy of Judicial Education. The Arkansas Supreme Court appointed Judge Warren to a six year term as an alternate member of the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in June of 2006. She is a member of the American, National, Arkansas and Pulaski County Bar Associations; the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; the National Association of Women Judges; the Arkansas Judicial Council; the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers; and the W. Harold Flowers Law Society. She is married to James M. Warren, Executive Director for Support Services at the Pulaski County Special School District. They have three adult sons.

CHRIS E WILLIAMS - (JUDGE MEMBER) lives in Malvern and was a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Malvern from1992 through December 31, 2002. In 2002, Judge Williams was elected to become Circuit Judge of the 7th Judicial District, Division I, beginning January 2003, and was also appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court to the Arkansas Court Automation Project Committee. Judge Williams received his B.A. degree from Henderson State University and J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He had a law practice in Malvern from 1981 to 1992. He is past President of the American Judges Association and a member of the American Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, Arkansas Bar Association, and the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church where he is the Chair of the Administrative Board. He has served in the past as Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Pastor Parish Committee. He is a member of the Gideons and Lion’s Club. Judge Williams served as Juvenile Referee from 1982-1986, City Councilman from 1984-1986 and City Attorney from 1986-1992. The Arkansas Supreme Court appointed Judge Williams to the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in May 2001.