LITTLE ROCK (KFSM) -- Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed a University of Arkansas law professor Tuesday (August 25) to replace Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Hannah when he retires August 31.
Howard Brill will take over September 1 and will serve the rest of Hannah's term, which is set to expire at the end of 2016, according to the governor's office.
Brill has been at the University of Arkansas School of Law since 1975 and currently teaches professional responsibility, remedies, civil procedure and domestic relations, as well as special topics courses on "Baseball and the Law" and Arkansas Constitutional Law.
Hutchinson released the following statement regarding the appointment:
"Howard Brill has the respect of the Arkansas bar, the judges and the legal community in general. Because of his fine mind and reputation, he has the capability of bringing the court together and elevating the court in everything it does. I have known Professor Brill for more than three decades, and he is the one that lawyers seeking guidance call. He’s the one that judges seeking wise counsel call. He’s a legal scholar, he’s respected nationally and internationally, and he’s a great communicator. That’s a good combination for the court."
Brill will not be eligible to seek reelection after his term is up in 2016.