Henry Woods (judge)
Encyclopedia
Henry Woods was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Abbeville, Mississippi
, Woods received a B.A.
from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1938 and a J.D.
from the University of Arkansas School of Law
in 1940. He was an FBI special agent from 1941 to 1946. He was in private practice in Texarkana, Arkansas
from 1946 to 1948, serving as a Referee in Bankruptcy
for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas from 1946 to 1947. He was an Executive secretary to Governor Sid Mc Math from 1949 to 1953,as well as serving as his campaign manager in both his successful bids in 1948 and 1950, his defeat for re-election as governor in 1952 as well as his failed challenge to Gov. Orval Faubus in 1962, and his bid to topple Senator John McLellan in 1954. He returned to private practice with McMath in the firm of MCMath, Leatherman,and Woods in Little Rock, Arkansas
until 1980. He was a Special Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
from 1967 to 1974.
On December 14, 1979, Woods was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 20, 1980, and received his commission the same day. His tenure was most notable for presiding over the contentious Pulaski County School Desegregation case from 1982 to 1990 and the controversies surrounding the tenure of then-Pulaski County Sheriff Tommy Robinson. He assumed senior status
on March 1, 1995, serving in that capacity until his death, in 2002, in Little Rock.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Abbeville, Mississippi
Abbeville, Mississippi
-Education:The Town of Abbeville is served by the Lafayette County School District.The University of Mississippi also owns and operates the University of Mississippi Field Station, which is located in Abbeville. It is a natural laboratory used to study, research and teach about sustainable...
, Woods received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1938 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Arkansas School of Law
University of Arkansas School of Law
The University of Arkansas School of Law is the law school of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a state university. It has around 445 students enrolled in its Juris Doctor and Master of Law programs and is home to the federally-funded National Agricultural Law Center and the...
in 1940. He was an FBI special agent from 1941 to 1946. He was in private practice in Texarkana, Arkansas
Texarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
from 1946 to 1948, serving as a Referee in Bankruptcy
Referee in Bankruptcy
A Referee in Bankruptcy or Bankruptcy Referee is a federal official with quasi-judicial powers, appointed by a United States district court to administer bankruptcy proceedings...
for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas from 1946 to 1947. He was an Executive secretary to Governor Sid Mc Math from 1949 to 1953,as well as serving as his campaign manager in both his successful bids in 1948 and 1950, his defeat for re-election as governor in 1952 as well as his failed challenge to Gov. Orval Faubus in 1962, and his bid to topple Senator John McLellan in 1954. He returned to private practice with McMath in the firm of MCMath, Leatherman,and Woods in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
until 1980. He was a Special Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
Arkansas Supreme Court
The Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1925, it has consisted of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, and at times Special Justices are called upon in the absence of a regular justice...
from 1967 to 1974.
On December 14, 1979, Woods was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas is the United States District Court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Craighead, Conway, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Dehsa, Drew, Faulkner, Fulton, Grant,...
created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 20, 1980, and received his commission the same day. His tenure was most notable for presiding over the contentious Pulaski County School Desegregation case from 1982 to 1990 and the controversies surrounding the tenure of then-Pulaski County Sheriff Tommy Robinson. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on March 1, 1995, serving in that capacity until his death, in 2002, in Little Rock.