Eastern District of Arkansas / Appointed 1979 / Served to 1987
William Ray Overton
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 and confirmed by voice vote, William Ray Overton was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. He earned a law degree from University of Arkansas School of Law in 1964. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, May 10, 1979
- Appointed by
- Jimmy Carter, 1979
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- University of Arkansas 1961 · University of Arkansas Law 1964
- Succeeded by
- Stephen M. Reasoner
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Eastern District of Arkansas | Carter (D) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| University of Arkansas | B.A., B.S. | 1961 |
| University of Arkansas School of Law | LL.B. | 1964 |
Sources
8 years on the Eastern District of Arkansas. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).