Bobby Shepherd
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and History, 1973
Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
El Dorado, Arkansas
“Judge Shepherd’s outstanding reputation as a fair and studious judge his earned him high marks with both the state and federal legal community.” –Arkansas Senior Mark Pryor
Fast Facts about Bobby Shepherd:
• In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Shepherd to a seat on the United States Court Appeals for the 8th Circuit. The court, only one step beneath the U.S. Supreme Court, has jurisdiction over Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and North and South Dakota.
• In 1993, he was appointed a full-time Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Arkansas, Shepherd is the second judge in U.S. history to be appointed to a circuit position from a federal magistrate position.
• Following graduation from law school at the University of Arkansas, Shepherd spent twelve years in private practice before his 1990 election to circuit-chancery judge in the Arkansas 13th Judicial District.
Why Shepherd is glad he went to Ouachita:
• Through the support of Ouachita faculty members such as professor Lavell Cole, Dr. Lera Kelly and others, he honed his academic discipline, learned thorough research practices and wholeheartedly prepared for a future legal career.
• Shepherd met his future wife Bobbi Beeson, a third generation Ouachitonian, during his college days. They solidified their romance over countless work study hours in the business office and married in December 1972.