Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Mike Beebe today named Bill Bowen of Little Rock to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Bowen, for whom the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law is named, will serve one year of the unexpired term of Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber, who recently retired.

A special election next May will determine who serves the remainder of Imber’s term, which ends in 2014.

“There is no questioning Bill Bowen’s integrity, knowledge and experience,” Beebe said about the 86-year-old. “Along with his inability to remain retired, Arkansas again has the chance to benefit from Bill’s willingness to serve.”

Bowen served as Gov. Bill Clinton’s chief of staff from 1991 until Clinton left to become president. In 1995, he was named dean of the UALR School of Law. The school was named in his honor in 2000.