AAC Staff Profile: JaNan Davis

JaNan Davis

AAC welcomes new RMF litigation counsel

Story and Photo by holland doran AAC Communications Coordinator

JaNan Davis has always wanted to be like her father, the late Bob “Soddy” Arnold, who was state representative for almost 20 years.

“Although he was not a lawyer, I wanted to be like my Daddy in the way that he was often able to help people navigate challenging issues in their lives,” she said.

Navigating challenging issues is a typical day for Davis, who joined the Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) as RMF Litigation Counsel on January 1.

At AAC, Davis is challenged by a full civil rights litigation caseload, answering legal questions concerning law enforcement or constitutional/civil rights matters.

“I really love being a lawyer and particularly enjoy the area of law in which I practice,” she said. “The constant challenge of the evolution of the law and society makes every case a unique experience.”

Davis knew she wanted to study law even before she graduated from Arkadelphia High School in 1990.

In addition to her parents’ strong belief in public service, Davis was inspired to pursue law by her cousins: the late Eighth Circuit Judge Richard Arnold; his brother, Eighth Circuit Judge Morris “Buzz” Arnold; and Former Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice W.H. “Dub” Arnold.

After high school, Davis wasted no time in pursuing her career, and started her undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1990.

In the fall of 1992, she studied abroad at the Universite de Michel Montaigne Bordeaux in France, and then graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1994 from Ouachita Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in history and French.

Davis earned her Juris Doctorate degree with Honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of law in 1996.

Davis’ first job out of law school was as a law clerk for the late Hon. Andree Layton Roaf, the first African-American woman to serve on the Arkansas Supreme Court.

In 1998, Davis joined Perroni & James Law Firm where she practiced criminal defense and civil litigation until 2001, when she became the first elected Maumelle city attorney. She served as city attorney until 2014. During this time she also joined Catlett and Stodola Law Firm. “As the Maumelle city attorney, I handled all legal matters for the city of Maumelle, including representation of the mayor and city council, all boards and commissions, and city employees or officials,” she said.

As city attorney, she also served as the prosecutor in Maumelle District Court, and in 2005, she joined Rainwater, Holt & Sexton Law Firm.

“At the Rainwater firm I worked exclusively on county defense cases,” she said. “I have handled cases at all stages of litigation and appeal and on a wide variety of issues, including allegations of constitutional violations against county officials and law enforcement officers, such as excessive force, unlawful arrest, denial of due process, denial of medical care, and unconstitutional conditions of confinement,” she said.

Davis is also a certified law enforcement trainer and often leads training seminars on issues related to jail law and the legalities of the use of force.

When it comes to accomplishments, Davis is most proud of her daughters, Elizabeth, 21, Emmeline “Emme,” 18, and Ella Fu, 14.

When it comes to professional accomplishments, she’s “most proud of the respect that I feel from clients and other lawyers,” she said.

“I work hard to earn their trust and handle cases in a way that is both honorable and zealous. “