Rhonda K. Wood
Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
Assumed office
January 1, 2015
Preceded byCliff Hoofman
Judge of the Arkansas Court of Appeals
In office
January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2014
Personal details
Born1969 (age 54–55)
EducationHendrix College (BA)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (JD)

Rhonda K. Wood (born 1969) is an American lawyer who has served as an associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court since 2015.[1] She previously served as a judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals from 2013 to 2014, and as a trial court judge for the Arkansas 20th Judicial Circuit from 2007 to 2012.[1]

Early life and education

Wood was born in Iowa in 1969.[2] She moved to Arkansas in 1994 to study at Hendrix College in Conway, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science in 1996.[2][3] She completed a Juris Doctor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 1999.[1]

Career

After graduating, Wood started her own law practice in Conway, which was eventually bought out by another law firm, Williams & Anderson of Little Rock.[4] She specialized in appellate law, health law, and business law.[3] Wood also worked as an assistant dean at the Bowen School of Law at UALR from 2002 to 2006.[3]

Since September 2022, Wood has co-hosted the podcast Lady Justice: Women of the Court with former Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack of Michigan and Chief Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia to discuss state courts, the law and its real-world implications.[5]

Judicial service

In 2006, Governor Mike Huckabee appointed Wood as a trial court judge, serving on the Arkansas 20th Judicial Circuit Court, which covers three counties: Faulkner, Searcy, and Van Buren. She was re-elected to a six-year term on this court in 2008.[4]

In 2010, Wood challenged incumbent Josephine L. Hart for a seat on the Arkansas Court of Appeals for district 2. Wood was defeated, receiving 48% of the vote, compared to 52% for Hart.[6] In 2012, Wood ran again for a seat on the Arkansas Court of Appeals, and this time she won, defeating Mitch Cash and winning 63% of the vote.[2]

In 2014, Wood ran for a seat on the Arkansas Supreme Court for position 7, and was elected unopposed.[7][8] Her eight-year term on the court expires in January 2023, and she is eligible to run for re-election in November 2022.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Associate Justice Rhonda K. Wood, Position 7". Arkansas Judiciary. State of Arkansas. 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Keith, Tammy (June 24, 2012). "Rhonda Wood". River Valley & Ozark. Little Rock. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Jennifer, Stanley (August 2015). "For the Greater Good: Justice Wood's Career Full of Accolades". Women's Inc. Conway, Arkansas. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "40 Under 40 2009: Rhonda Wood". Arkansas Business. Little Rock. 2009. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  5. ^ Development, PodBean. "Lady Justice: Women of the Court". ladyjustice.podbean.com.
  6. ^ Lynch, John (May 13, 2012). "2 Appeals Court Judges Seek Justice Position". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  7. ^ "Judge Rhonda Wood to run for Arkansas Supreme Court post". Talk Business & Politics. Natural State Media. June 3, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  8. ^ "2014 Election Filings". Arkansas Online. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. March 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  9. ^ "Arkansas Judicial Elections 2014" (PDF). Administrative Office of the Courts. State of Arkansas. 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
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