Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building - Fort Smith, Arkansas
Posted by: 
gparkes
N 35° 23.170 W 094° 25.609
15S E 370410 N 3916803
This courthouse was named after Judge Isaac C. Parker, the "hanging judge."
Waymark Code: WM8CRD
Location: Arkansas, United States
Date Posted: 03/13/2010
Views: 8
Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building
The building was named for Fort Smith's most famous Judge. The second judge of the court is the one whose reputation built the court. The first judge at the court was Judge William Story, who was marred by corruption. Judge Isaac Parker took over the court on May 4, 1875. His reputation as the “hanging judge” was built over a career of 21 years. The first case heard in his court was on May 10, 1875, in which eight men were convicted of murder. He sentenced them to death, of which six actually saw the gallows. One sentence was commuted to a life sentence due to the youth of the convicted and the other was killed during an attempted escape. Throughout the years, 160 death sentences were handed down by Judge Parker, with 79 actually meeting their fate at the gallows. The other 81 meet their fate by either dying while incarcerated, reduction of sentence during appeal, or obtaining a pardon.
Fort Smith Office
For the Western District of Arkansas
This is the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. This site is the main office is located in Fort Smith. Satellite offices are located in El Dorado, Fayetteville, Harrison, Hot Springs, and Texarkana.
* Image taken from United States District Court Website.
As originally constructed in 1937, it was built to house both the federal court house and post office. Today, the post office has been relocated, but the court remains along with a variety of other offices including the Federal Marshalls.