Chief Justice John Dan Kemp to Give U of A School of Law Commencement Speech

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John Dan Kemp, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas, will be the featured speaker at the 2024 U of A School of Law Commencement. The commencement ceremony will be celebrated on Saturday, May 18, at the Fayetteville Town Center, with the graduation procession beginning at 2 p.m.

The graduating law school class selected Kemp as its commencement speaker for his commitment to justice and leadership. He is an accomplished attorney and an esteemed jurist.

"We are honored that our alumnus Chief Justice Kemp will be our commencement speaker. His exemplary career personifies the values of leadership, integrity, professional excellence and commitment to the ideals of justice and makes him the perfect choice to address our students as they transition to the profession," said Dean Cynthia Nance. "I have no doubt his words will inspire our graduates."

Kemp is from Mountain View. He received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the U of A in 1973 and his Juris Doctor from the U of A Law School in 1976.

After graduation, Kemp returned to Mountain View to establish a solo law practice. In 1977, he was appointed as municipal judge of Mountain View by Governor David Pryor. He served in this role until 1986 when he was elected circuit judge of the 16th Judicial District. He served as a circuit judge for 30 years until his election as chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2016.

Kemp served as president of the Municipal Judges Association in 1984 and president of the Arkansas Judicial Council in 2007. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1979 and is a member of the Conference of Chief Justices, serving on their Board of Directors from 2019-2022.

For more information about law school graduation, please visit the Law Commencement Information page. The event will be livestreamed on the U of A YouTube channel.

About the University of Arkansas School of Law: The law school offers J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, with classes taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, advocacy and journal experiences, and food and agriculture initiatives. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become president of the United States and secretary of state, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follow us at @uarklaw.