Jimm Larry Hendren
Encyclopedia
Jimm Larry Hendren is the US District Judge who ruled in favor of Billy Ray and Mary Nell Counts, a couple in Cedarville, Arkansas
, in the 2003 lawsuit
Counts et ux. v. Cedarville School Board. The court decided that the local school's rule requiring parents' written consent to read the Harry Potter
books was unconstitutional.
The district court's opinion can be found here, and the decision was cited as precedent
in subsequent censorship
cases.
Hendren graduated with an LL.B. from the University of Arkansas School of Law
in 1965. Later that year Hendren would join the JAG Corps of the United States Navy
, returning in 1968, for a year, to his private practice in Bentonville, Arkansas
, which he would expand in later years. In 1970 Hendren became a United States Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander
, a position he would hold until 1983. Meanwhile, in 1977, he became a probate judge (Chancellor) of Arkansas' Sixteenth Chancery District, before returning again to his private practice.
He was nominated by George H. W. Bush
as a District Court Judge for the Western District of Arkansas
on November 5, 1991, to a new seat created by 104 Statue 5089. The nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 13, 1992, and Hendren received the commission on March 18, 1992. He has served as the chief judge from 1997 to the present.
Cedarville, Arkansas
Cedarville is a city in Crawford County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, in the 2003 lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
Counts et ux. v. Cedarville School Board. The court decided that the local school's rule requiring parents' written consent to read the Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
books was unconstitutional.
The district court's opinion can be found here, and the decision was cited as precedent
Precedent
In common law legal systems, a precedent or authority is a principle or rule established in a legal case that a court or other judicial body may apply when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts...
in subsequent censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
cases.
Hendren graduated with an LL.B. 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 1965. Later that year Hendren would join the JAG Corps of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, returning in 1968, for a year, to his private practice in Bentonville, Arkansas
Bentonville, Arkansas
Bentonville, Arkansas is a city in Northwest Bahamas, and county seat of Benton County, Arkansas, United States The population was 35,301 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, which he would expand in later years. In 1970 Hendren became a United States Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
, a position he would hold until 1983. Meanwhile, in 1977, he became a probate judge (Chancellor) of Arkansas' Sixteenth Chancery District, before returning again to his private practice.
He was nominated by George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
as a District Court Judge for the Western District of Arkansas
United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas is a United States District Court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Clarke, Columbia, Crawford, Franklin, Garland, Hempstead, Hot Springs, Howard,...
on November 5, 1991, to a new seat created by 104 Statue 5089. The nomination 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 March 13, 1992, and Hendren received the commission on March 18, 1992. He has served as the chief judge from 1997 to the present.
See also
- Religious debates over Harry PotterReligious debates over Harry PotterReligious debates over the Harry Potter series of books by J. K. Rowling stem largely from assertions that the novels contain occult or Satanic subtexts. A number of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians have argued against the series, as have some Shia and Sunni Muslims.Responses to these...
- Legal disputes over the Harry Potter series