News-Times Staff Report
SMACKOVER — Attorney James McMenis is seeking a seat on the Arkansas Court of Appeals in the Nov. 8 General Election.
McMenis, 68, is running for the associate judgeship along with Mark Klappenbach. The race is non-partisan.
A resident of Smackover, McMenis has three children; Julie McMenis Dodson, James Robert McMenis and Jeffrey B. McMenis, and eight grandchildren.
“I have small town south central Arkansas common sense family values and principals,” McMenis said. “My education and training, as well as my experience as an attorney, and my experience in problem solving, public service and military/government experience are good reasons to support me for this position.”
He is a graduate of De Valls Bluff High School where he was Salutatorian; and a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University (B. A. — Magna Cum Laude) and University of Arkansas School of Law (Juris Doctorate — upper 1/3).
He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army JAG School (Masters of Military Law — LLMM) and the University of Virginia School of Law (Masters of Law — LLM).
McMenis also graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officers Course. During his 20 years of military service he served in several legal capacities, including: General Counsel, Fort Drum, New York; Chief Career Management Office and Chief, Unit Training and Liaison Office, U.S. Army JAG School; Assistant Chief and Trial Counsel (Pro-secutor) Criminal Law Division and Chief, Legal Assis-tance Office, U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Plans Officer, and Executive for Executive for Reserve Affairs, U.S. Forces Command; Legal Advisor Crises Action Team Forces Command.
He is currently in private practice with a broad general full service practice with a concentration in Domestic Relations Law, including divorce, custody, child support; orders of protection and paternity; Criminal Law, including expungements, felony/misdemeanor violations, drug court; Civil Law, including personal injury, contracts, debtor/creditor; Probate, including decedent estates, guardianships, adoptions; Juvenile, including dependency neglect and families in need of support.
McMenis said he is seeking public office “To continue my service to my community, my state and my country.”
“I have 43 years as an attorney — 20 years as a military attorney and 23 years in private practice. I handled two appeals to the Arkansas Court of Appeals. I have two masters of Law degrees — beyond the Juris Doctorate degree,” he said.
McMenis has not held elected office before.
The top problem he expects to face as an associate judge would be “in deciding cases on appeal to follow Arkansas case law by ensuring that: one, the decision by the Circuit Court is supported by the evidence in the appealed case as reflected in record submitted to the Court of Appeals; two, that the law was followed; and three that the rules of procedure were also followed,” McMenis said.
His main goal, if elected, would be to follow the law and the legal precedents, as well as his conscience and ethical training in deciding cases appealed to the Court of Appeals.
“I have about 10 more years experience as an attorney and have two advanced legal degrees from the U.S. Army JAG School and the University of Virginia,” McMenis said when asked what makes him the best candidate for the bench.
“My recent practice is broader than my opponent who has concentrated exclusively on criminal law in the recent past,” he said.
As role models, McMenis said he looks to emulate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonion Scalia, Arkansas Chief Justice Howard Brill and former Chief Justice John Fogleman.
McMenis said his character traits include “ethical values, experience, education, along with a tradition of service, integrity, trust and accountability.”
The last books he read was “Sycamore Row” by John Grisham and “Critical Mass” by Steve Martini, two legal thrillers.
McMenis enjoys traveling, reading, music in general (symphony and popular), watching plays, and eating out. “I especially enjoy blues music,” he said.
The most important thing McMenis wants the voters to know about him is his family’s — as well his personal — tradition of service and hard work.
“I prepared the Department of Defense legal annexes to the Concept plans for resolving domestic emergencies such as the LA riots and the hurricane relief efforts and was the legal advisor to the Crises Action Team at US Forces Command which oversaw those military efforts,” McMenis said. “I also prepared the legal annexes to the Forces Command Deployment and Operations Plan which governed the call up and deployment of reserve and national guard troops in the Gulf war.”
“I am a member of the Gideons International and Lions’ International, a veteran, and a seventh generation/life long Arkansan (except for military service),” he said.
McMenis is a member of Maple Avenue Baptist Church where he serves in the AWANA program.
McMenis also serves on the Board of Directors of FACT (Head Start), and Legal Services of Arkansas (and formerly served on the board of Arkansas Volunteer Lawyers for the Elderly, and the Fort Leonard Wood Credit Union.
“I am a member of the Arkansas Bar Association – serving on the House of Delegates and various Committees,” he added.