District Judge Bruce Anderson has been serving South Arkansas for over a decade now, and his dedication to the court and the community is remarkable.
Anderson’s early life was spent on his father’s farm in Woodruff County, Arkansas, where he learned the value of hard work and perseverance.
After obtaining his degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Anderson pursued law school at Little Rock. Initially interested in tax law, he soon found his passion in business law. As he advises young students: “That’s why I tell all these young kids, take every kind of class you can take in school. Don’t worry. I mean, everything. No matter. Even stuff you think you don’t want to know anything about, take it. Because that’s how you find out what you like to do or what you’ve got a propensity for.”
Anderson started his career practicing general law in Brinkley, Arkansas, before moving to Warren to join the Haley-Claycomb Law Firm. “I’m married to a Warren girl,” said Anderson, speaking about his wife Lou Anne. They had been married about six years before coming to Warren, but Anderson’s connections through his wife meant he knew the area and many of the people even before moving.
After spending time as the deputy prosecuting attorney while still running a private law practice, Anderson felt that he had the experience to become a district judge when Judge Robert Garner announced his retirement. As Anderson himself puts it: “A door opened, so I took it.”
As a District Judge for the 28th District Court of Arkansas, Anderson presides over all misdemeanor cases and has a civil docket. He has court almost every week, three to four days a week, and takes his work very seriously. As he explains, “If you’re charged with a crime, your guilt is decided in a court by a judge or jury. That system is very important when you have a system where people can take grievances and have them heard and the opportunity to present their side of things. That’s part of what keeps everything together. It’s really important and I take it very serious.”
Anderson’s passion for justice and dedication to his job is evident in the way he serves his community. He believes that every case that comes before him is important, and he is always ready to listen to both sides before making a decision. As he says, “Our justice system in the United States is unique. Because we have such an open justice system. We have innocent until proven guilty. And the state has the burden of proving you’re guilty.”
Anderson’s commitment to justice and fairness has earned him the respect and admiration of the people in his community.