LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Hannah said Thursday that he's resigning at the end of August because of health problems, months after accusing other justices of unnecessarily delaying proceedings in a gay marriage case.
Hannah announced he's leaving the post more than a year before his eight-year term expires. Hannah had been widely expected to not seek re-election next year.
"In recent weeks I have been challenged by a significant health issue," he said in a prepared statement. "Having the utmost respect for my job as chief justice and the business of the court, I have made a decision to tender my resignation effective at the end of August 31, 2015 to focus full-time on addressing my immediate health condition."
A spokesman said Hannah would not be available for interviews, and declined to elaborate on the type of health issues the chief justice had been facing.
Hannah was first elected to the state Supreme Court in 2000 and was elected chief justice in 2004. He was elected to a full eight-year term in 2008.
Hannah and Associate Justice Paul Danielson earlier this year accused other members of the court of delaying the lawsuit over Arkansas' gay marriage ban by creating a separate case over which justices could hear the appeal. The court eventually ruled that Justice Rhonda Wood, who joined the court in January, should participate in the case rather than a special justice who sat on the court during oral arguments last year.
In a letter recusing from the spinoff case, Hannah wrote that the court's majority "has created out of whole cloth an issue to delay the disposition" in the gay marriage case.
The court dismissed the gay marriage case hours after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide.
Hannah said he'll be "forever grateful" for his time on the court.
"There is no greater honor that a person can receive than to have another person place his or her trust and confidence in you," Hannah said. "I want to thank the people of Arkansas who placed their trust and confidence in me and allowed me to serve them on their Arkansas Supreme Court."
Statement by Hannah on intent to resign
The people of Arkansas elected me to our state’s highest court in year 2000. I will be forever grateful.
It is with great pride and pleasure that I have served on the Arkansas Supreme Court for over fourteen years, the last ten in the role of Chief Justice. In recent weeks I have been challenged by a significant health issue. Having the utmost respect for my job as Chief Justice and the business of the court, I have made a decision to tender my resignation effective at the end of August 31, 2015 to focus full-time on addressing my immediate health condition.
There is no greater honor that a person can receive than to have another person place his or her trust and confidence in you. I want to thank the people of Arkansas who placed their trust and confidence in me and allowed me to serve them on their Arkansas Supreme Court. I sincerely appreciate the excellent staff that has worked with me. I have been privileged to work with some of the best district court judges, circuit court judges, appellate court judges, and justices in the country. I have also been privileged to work with our excellent Administrative Office of the Courts, it's leadership and dedicated employees. Lastly, thank you to my wife Pat for her sacrifice and support.