JOHN F: STROUD, JR.
j
ohn F. Stroud, Jr., recalls going to the courthouse as a young boy to watch and listen to his grandfather, Judge A. P. Steel, a former circuit and chancery judge, as he sat on the bench. Those ~ early impressions of law left Stroud sure of his calling. Now, nearly 50 years later, he stands ready to head an association with 3400 members and an annual budget of $424,000, and stands firm in a conviction perhaps linked to the past for improved bench/bar relations.
What will be the thrust of your year as president of the Arkansas Bar Association? Improved benchlbar relations is one of the main things I want to see occur during the upcoming bar year. I think henchlbar relations are good in Arkansas, but they can be better and I hope they will be better at the end of this bar year.
In what ways might bench/bar relations be improved? We've lowered the dues and done other things for judges, such as offer special registration fees at our meetings. We're slowly coming to the realization that their salaries
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ing a problem. It's not a case of let's meet and here are six problems we'll solve. It's simply that the exchange, both professional and social, between attorneys, judges and their spouses will be rewarding. We'll do this on a trial basis in 1988 and if it goes welL I think that it will be repeated.
- Will the Arkansas Bar Associ~ alion actively pursue the cre~ ation of a Judicial Compen-
are too low, and I want the bar association to do more to address their need for pay increases. In addition. I began working last fall on a proposal to the Arkansas Judicial Council asking them to meet simultaneously with us in Hot Springs at our 1988 annual meeting and they have agreed to do that. What do you see to be the benefits of a joint meeting? Certainly the opportunity to exchange ideas, to discuss problems and to participate socially will be some of the benefits. I just know that meeting together provides communication, and communication is the way to solve problems and the way to prevent something from becom-
By Ruth W11110ms
sation Commission? Yes, we're committed to pursuing a Judicial Compensation Commission and offering the bench any other support that we can. I want our support to be often and strong. A petition drive to place a constitutional amendment for a Judicial Compensation Commission on the 1988 ballot was discussed in Texarkana at the Judicial Council's spring meeting. It was also thoroughly discussed and approved by the Executive Council at its meeting in May. The bar is ready to assist in any way and, in fact, to take the lead with the guidance of the Judicial Council. What other goals have you set for this
bar year? I would like to see mandatory continuing legal education in place by January I, 1988. Last year the ArkanJuly 1987/Arkansas Lawyer/83