The Historical Society of the United States Courts in the Eighth Circuit

The Honorable Richard Sheppard Arnold was “born into the law” on March 26, 1936, in Texarkana, Texas. Lawyers and judges line both sides of his family tree for several generations.

He graduated with high honors from Yale University and Harvard Law School, ranking number one in his law school class. His legal career began as a law clerk for Mr. Justice William J. Brennan of the United States Supreme Court. He worked in private practice and federal politics before serving as a federal judge.

He was appointed as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas in 1978 and was elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 1980. He served as Chief Judge from 1992 to 1998 and assumed senior status in 2001. He died on September 23, 2004. His legacy as one of the greatest judges of our time lives on.

To read more about the highly respected and distinguished life and career of Judge Arnold, click here.