On January 1, 2003, Judge Robert F. "Bobby" Fussell of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas retired. Unfortunately, just a few days before his retirement, Judge Fussell suffered a stroke. He is reportedly doing well, and doctors are very optimistic about his recovery.

Robert Foreman Fussell was born on January 1, 1938 in Forrest City, Arkansas. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in 1960. After graduating from college he served in the United States army until 1962. He went on to receive his law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1965.

After graduating from law school, he took a job with the National Labor Relations Board in Little Rock, where he represented employees with complaints against management. In 1968 he went to work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

In 1976, he left the U.S. Attorney's Office and entered private practice, where he took up the cause of deaf rights. He was instrumental in helping to push for state legislation that now guarantees deaf criminal defendants in Arkansas the right to an interpreter.

In 1983, he was appointed as a bankruptcy judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. As a bankruptcy judge in Arkansas, Judge Fussell has had to contend with one of the busiest dockets in the country. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, Arkansas had the sixth-highest rate of bankruptcy in 2001. Despite the heavy caseload, he developed a reputation for being sensitive to the toll bankruptcy can take on debtors. He is quoted as saying, "There is nothing more emotional than money."

The 8th Circuit recently appointed Richard D. Taylor to serve as Judge Fussell's successor. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Judge Fussell!