The Post Office stayed in the building's lobby until the mid 90's and one can still see the wall of individual embossed mailboxes and original counter. In 2003 it was renamed for Judge Richard Arnold who sat on the 8th circuit. Although it's purely a courthouse now the name still says Post Office and Courthouse.
The courthouse is one of the State's 3 eastern Courthouses.Anybody entering the premises must leave their phones with security as no cameras are allowed in the building.
We were divided into 3 groups to visit 3 different courtrooms in on the 1st and 4th floors in both the old and new structures. In the original large courtroom, the architectural features are the same as in every state. Now the jurors have computer screens to view from their seats! The bar footrests were obviously for much taller folks than me. (LOL)
The courtroom were the Little Rock 9 was tried has been moved down to the first floor to make it more accessible to visitors.
Landmark cases included :
1957: Federal supremacy over school desegregation with the Little Rock 9 being admitted to Central after Governor Faubus sent in the National Guard ( Cooper vs Aaron).
1969: Judge Henley rules the entire Arkansas prison system unconstitutional (Holt v. Sarver) First time whole state prison struck down under the 8th amendment.
1982 Judge Overton struck down state's creation- science law, McLean v Arkansas Board of Education, declaring creation science wasn't science at all.
mid 90'sJudge Howard Jr presided over Whitewater Trials of the M/M McDougal with President Clinton giving video testimony.
Some other inter tidbits were family members amidst the Judges.
Judge Thomas Clark Trimble III and daughter federal Judges: ElsiJane Trimble Roy, first woman onn the federal bench in Arkansas. She even sat in his old courtroom.
Father -Son pair Jams Maxwell Moody and son James Maxwell Moody Jr. who took the seat in 2014 and is still there
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