George Howard Jr. facts for kids

George Howard Jr. (May 13, 1924 – April 21, 2007) was an important American judge. He served in World War II and later became a lawyer. He was a United States district judge in Arkansas.

Howard was the first African-American United States District Judge in Arkansas. He was known for his fairness. He also played a role in some major court cases.

Early Life and Education

George Howard Jr. was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on May 13, 1924. When he was a teenager, he joined the United States Navy. He served during World War II from 1943 to 1946.

During his time in the Navy, he faced racism. This experience inspired him to become a lawyer. After the war, he finished high school. He then went to Lincoln University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated with honors from their pre-law program.

Howard then attended the University of Arkansas. He made history there. He was the first African-American student to live in campus housing. He studied at the University of Arkansas School of Law. In 1954, he earned his law degree, called a Juris Doctor.

He is remembered as one of the "Six Pioneers." These were the first six African-American students at the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Legal Career in Arkansas

After law school, Howard returned to Pine Bluff. He started his own law practice. He worked there from 1954 to 1977, and again in 1979. During this time, he ran for city council but did not win.

He also served as president of the State Council of Branches for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This group works for civil rights.

In 1967, Governor Winthrop Rockefeller appointed him to the Arkansas State Claims Commission. He became Chairman of the Commission in 1969. He held this role until 1977. Then, Governor David Pryor named him a justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court.

In 1979, Governor Bill Clinton appointed Howard to be a judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals.

Becoming a Federal Judge

President Jimmy Carter chose George Howard Jr. to be a federal judge. He was nominated on June 2, 1980. He would serve on two courts: the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

The United States Senate approved his nomination on September 29, 1980. He officially became a judge on September 30, 1980.

In 1990, his role in the Western District ended. He then served only in the Eastern District. He continued to serve until his death on April 21, 2007.

Important Court Cases

Judge Howard played a significant role in the Whitewater trials. These were a series of important court cases. He presided over several cases related to this matter.

In one instance, he even asked President Bill Clinton to give testimony by video. This showed his commitment to justice.

Legacy and Honors

George Howard Jr. was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 1994. He was known for his fairness and strong belief in civil rights. Even when his health declined, he continued to drive daily from Pine Bluff to Little Rock for his judicial duties.

He passed away on April 21, 2007, after a long illness. Soon after his death, he was honored by lawmakers. Representative Mike Ross and Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor introduced a bill. This bill proposed renaming the federal building and courthouse in Pine Bluff after him.

The legislation passed, and the building at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine Bluff was renamed the George Howard Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse. His portrait hangs in federal courthouses in Pine Bluff and Little Rock.

A scholarship fund, The George Howard Junior Scholarship Fund, was created in his honor. It is at the William H. Bowen School of Law of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2008, he was also inducted into the Lincoln University Hall of Fame.

See also

• Whitewater controversy
• List of African-American jurists
• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Arkansas