Payton R. Flower has been selected to serve as editor-in-chief of the Arkansas Law Review for the 2024-25 academic year. The outgoing editorial board selected Flower based on her dedication and commitment to the flagship legal journal in the state of Arkansas. 

Reflecting on the significance of her achievement, Flower said, "Being selected as editor-in-chief is undoubtedly the greatest honor of my educational career. I could not be more excited to serve the Arkansas Law Review, the School of Law and the state of Arkansas in this capacity. As an out-of-state student, I am incredibly grateful for the ways in which Arkansas has quickly become home for me in my short time here. I am delighted to be able to directly impact the legal scholarship community through the state's flagship legal journal. This achievement will enable me to collaborate with my incredible peers, legal scholars and the greater community in a way that is truly invaluable." The Arkansas Law Review, a mainstay of the legal community in Arkansas, has been in publication for 76 years.

Amanda Hurst and Daniel Rice serve as faculty advisers for the Arkansas Law Review. Professor Hurst said, "I'm thrilled Payton has been named editor-in-chief of the Arkansas Law Review. I have worked very closely with her, and she is truly outstanding on every front." Hurst added, "Payton possesses both unparalleled professionalism skills and an exceptional legal mind, so she is the perfect fit to provide stellar leadership for ALR."

Flower, who is a second-year student at the U of A School of Law, was selected, along with the new editorial board, by the outgoing executive editorial board. Current editor-in-chief Jissel Esparza Saucedo said, "Throughout law school, Payton has demonstrated a commitment to excellence, a resilient work ethic and, above all, a desire to make a difference in the lives of others. I have no doubt Payton will be an outstanding editor-in-chief for our state's flagship legal journal."

Flower said that, for her and her classmates, the Arkansas Law Review represents a valuable opportunity to directly impact the legal community and engage in important dialogues that will impact the practice of law going forward. Flower said "ALR opens the door for students to make a lasting impact on areas of the law that interest us most, creating a strong foundation for a rewarding legal career," adding, "ALR allows students to create connections with their peers and law school faculty, fostering mentorship and creating a strong sense of community and achievement within our school. I am incredibly grateful for the student experience ALR has given me and look forward to fostering this experience for others over the next year." 

Flower is originally from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics with a focus in public policy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she graduated as a Chancellor's Scholar with highest distinction and university honors in 2022. 

Since starting law school, Flower has participated in the Board of Advocates' competitions, including the Negotiations Competition her 1L year and the William H. Sutton Barrister's Union Trial Competition her 2L year. Flower is a member of the 2024 ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition Traveling Moot Court Team, advancing to the top eight teams at the Los Angeles regional and recognized for 3rd best brief. Flower's student scholarship, Sowing Seeds of Restriction: Cultivating Insight into Foreign Agricultural Holdings and Equal Protection Concerns, is forthcoming publication in Volume 77 of the Arkansas Law Review. During Flower's 1L summer, Flower clerked at Conner & Winters, LLP, and Miller Butler. This summer Payton will be working at Shook, Hardy, & Bacon in Kansas City, Missouri.

About the School of Law: The law school offers J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, with classes taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, advocacy and journal experiences, and food and agriculture initiatives. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become president of the United States and secretary of state, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follow us at @uarklaw.