In Re Retirement of Judge Rita W. Gruber

2024 Ark. App. 632

• Court: Court of Appeals of Arkansas
• Decided: December 11, 2024
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2024 Ark. App. 632 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS

IN RE RETIREMENT OF JUDGE Opinion Delivered December 11, 2024 RITA W. GRUBER

PER CURIAM

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. – attributed to John Wesley

Judge Rita W. Gruber’s life reflects this sentiment. A Pulaski County native and the

first in her family to attend college, she graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little

Rock in 1973 and from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law in 1979.

After ten years in private practice, she became the Pulaski County Judge—the first woman

to hold this position. Thereafter, she served the children and families of Pulaski and Perry

Counties for eighteen years as a circuit judge for the Sixth Judicial District. While on the

trial bench, she helped establish a volunteer probation officer program to work with first-

time juvenile offenders. She also established a teen parenting program and a truancy

alternative school. In 2008, Judge Gruber was elected to the Arkansas Court of Appeals; she

was re-elected in 2016. During her tenure, she was deservedly appointed as the first woman

chief judge of this court and served from 2017 through 2020.

Throughout her career, Judge Gruber has dedicated time and energy to both the

legal community and the public through her service on numerous boards and committees,

often in leadership roles. She served on the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Child

Support and the Arkansas Judicial Council. She has been actively involved with the Pulaski

County Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

Judge Gruber has continually served as a mentor to lawyers—new and seasoned alike.

In her time at this court, she has employed law students in her administrative-assistant

position and every year has had externs from the state’s two law schools and beyond,

providing a unique learning opportunity. She and her husband established the Judges Rita

and Wayne Gruber Book Award, given annually to a deserving part-time law student at the William H. Bowen School of Law. They presently are changing the focus to recognize

externs who serve this court.

The Judges Gruber have been married for fifty-one years. They are exceptionally

proud of their children, Regan and Will, both of whom are attorneys. They are the even

prouder grandparents of Grant, Paige, Thatcher, and Allie.

Judge Gruber displays a calm graciousness under pressure, possesses an exceptional

intellect and memory, and treats everyone she encounters with respect and dignity. She is

an avid reader and a meticulous writer and editor. Our work is better for her having

reviewed it.

The Arkansas Court of Appeals thanks Judge Gruber for her years of public service

and immense contributions to the justice system and the people of Arkansas. She is a trusted

colleague and friend to all who have been privileged to work with her. Her keen

observations and ability to bring people together will be missed. Her colleagues express

heartfelt appreciation to Judge Gruber for a lifetime of service to our state. We wish her the

best in retirement.