Former Arkansas chief justice Hannah dies at age 71

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Hannah, who led the court as it tackled high-profile cases involving voter ID, gay marriage and school funding, has died. He was 71.

The state Supreme Court announced that Hannah died Thursday. Hannah had stepped down from the court last year due to unspecified health problems. The court did not give a cause of death.

Hannah was elected to the state Supreme Court in 2000 and was elected chief justice in 2004. He was re-elected to a full eight-year term in 2008.

Hannah and another justice earlier last year accused other members of the court of delaying the lawsuit over Arkansas' gay marriage ban by creating a separate case over which justices could hear the appeal.

By Andrew DeMillo, AP. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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