Living a life of service has been nothing new to Judge Robert Edwards as he learned it from an early age. His father, Dr. Hugh Edwards was a long-time respected and trusted physician in Searcy and White County. Edwards’ life, however, took a different track as he chose a legal path for his life’s work.
Judge Edwards and his sister, Marcia Edwards Darr, were raised in Searcy and were active students in their respective classes at Searcy High School: his, 1965 and hers, 1962. He embraced all the opportunities Searcy High School afforded him from being a starting guard on the SHS Lion football team to being the president of the Thespian Society. It was through these organizations that he learned the significance of teamwork. His chosen curriculum was no “walk in the park” because he enrolled in all the rigorous science and math courses.
He has made mention of key instructors who influenced him in his academic pursuits: Mrs. Eloise Scroggins, Robert Abney, and Mrs. Ruth Fuller. It might be construed that Mrs. Fuller set him on a legal path when she told him that he was a very good speaker. That, and the fact that as he grew up, he enjoyed television legal dramas such as Perry Mason. Perhaps these things might have contributed to his decision to enroll in the University of Arkansas School of Law after receiving his undergraduate degree in 1969. Also factoring into this decision was the idea he could take satisfaction from being an advocate for others.
After graduating from law school, Edwards and his young family had offers for employment in other areas of the state of Arkansas, but because family was in Searcy, and his wife Pam was a Beebe native, they decided raising their family in Searcy would be a good fit for them. Working with Darrell Hickman, whom Edwards characterizes as a fine mentor and critic, his first office was in the White County Guaranty Savings and Loan building on Center Street (currently the home of the Searcy Police Department). It was not long before Gene Raff, prosecutor, appointed him as his deputy. Because of a number of high-profile cases during his tenure, Judge Edwards credits this time in his career as being a learning process that provided a wealth of knowledge and experience. His time as a deputy provided the opportunity to be elected as prosecuting attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit, which included White, Lonoke, and Prairie Counties, in 1978. He was then re-elected in 1980.
Judge Edwards has enjoyed a reputation for being a very fair and impartial attorney, and this reputation has garnered appointments to prestigious positions. In 1984 and 1986, Governor Bill Clinton appointed him to the Arkansas Board of Pardons and Parole, and in 1988, he served as Special Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court.
In 1990 Robert Edwards was elected by the voters to be the Circuit-Chancery Judge (which later became Circuit Judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit) and was elected five times. With his continuing respect from the legal community, Judge Edwards took on more assignments. In 1997 the Arkansas Judicial Council selected him to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Judicial Retirement System eventually serving as board chairman for 25 years. It was during that time, the assets of the system increased from ninety million to over 300 million dollars. Additionally, Judge Edwards served as President of the Arkansas Judicial Council from 2013-2014. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of University of Arkansas Law Alumni Society.
As circuit judge, Judge Edwards’ cases were concerned with criminal and juvenile matters, which are high-pressure topics. He has said he felt it was incumbent on him to be fair and impartial and to make decisions to the best of his knowledge, but to be decisive as his decisions impacted the lives of countless people. Because he worked closely with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), which is dedicated to improving the lives of children involved in the foster care system, the volunteers and administration, who work in this non-profit, have high praise for him. Laura Burks, Executive Director of CASA of White County, is quoted as saying, “Judge Robert Edwards brought the CASA program to White County in 2000. Since then, the Court Appointed Special Advocates program has flourished. During his time as circuit court judge, our volunteer advocates and CASA staff were valued and validated by him for their work with the foster children in our community. We will always be indebted to Judge Edwards for his contribution to the wellbeing of families and children here in White County.”
Retirement came a little sooner than Judge Edwards had anticipated. He was preparing to retire in December of 2020, but in March of that year, he was diagnosed with leukemia and fought a valiant battle against the disease and is now completely in remission. Thinking about the greater good of the court and its workings, he retired early in May of that year seven months prior to his planned retirement so that the business of the court would not be interrupted. At his retirement he had been on the bench for thirty years.
The Edwards family is comprised of his wife Pam, his children, Reed, who followed in his father’s footsteps and is an attorney for the City of Little Rock, Marlo and her husband, David Bruce, who reside in Houston, Texas, and his adored grandchildren Walker and Blakely, students at the University of Texas. Throughout Judge Edwards’ legal career, he recognizes and appreciates their support for him in his profession. In his spare time, he likes to play golf, read, and keep up with the news of the day. When asked about the state of our world, he replied that the rule of law has deteriorated with the bitterness that is so prevalent in our world today.
Former Governor Mike Beebe, a colleague and good friend said of Judge Edwards: “He’s had a distinguished public service career as a prosecutor and judge. He was always fair and strictly no nonsense, with a keen understanding of the law.”
Judge Edwards’ stellar career is still not complete as he regularly accepts invitations to serve as a special judge when judges in their respective districts must recuse themselves from a case. It is the good fortune of Arkansas citizens who still benefit from his vast experience.
Judge Robert Edwards will be inducted into the Searcy Public Education Foundation as an Outstanding Alumnus on January 31 in the Searcy High School Lion Arena. Tickets are twenty dollars and that includes the reception in his honor at 5:30 in the hospitality room of the arena and admission to the Lions and Lady Lions basketball games against Batesville High School. Formal recognition of Judge Edwards will be between the boys’ and girls’ games.
Tickets may be purchased by going to https://gofan.co/event/2530435?schoolld=AR18680 or by mailing a check to the attention of Betsy Bailey at 801 North Elm, Searcy, AR 72143.
Contributed by Jean Ann Bell, Searcy Public Schools Education Foundation Board Member