Judge Victor Hill dead at age 67

Longtime circuit judge served Crittenden County, seeking justice for all citizens

By the Times News Staff

ralphhardin@gmail.com

The Honorable Victor Lamont Hill (ret.) of Little Rock, Ark., 67, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2023. He was born on April 18, 1955, in Little Rock, Ark., and grew up in the Wrightsville community. Judge Hill graduated from Wilbur D. Mills High School; completed his undergraduate studies, majoring in philosophy and minoring in religion, at the University of Arkansas Little Rock; received a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; and earned his Juris Doctor from the William H. Bowen School of Law.

After law school, he worked at the East Arkansas Legal Services where he did substantial work advancing voting rights in Crittenden County. He became a supervising attorney before running for judicial office. From 20002016, Judge Hill served as the Division 6 judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court of Arkansas, which includes Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett Counties. While on the bench, Judge Hill started and presided over Mental Health Court and Veterans Court—programs designed to reduce recidivism rates

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and provide treatment and rehabilitation rather than incarceration.

His colleagues described him as being brilliant, fair, kind, funny, and compassionate.

Judge Hill had many hobbies, including, martial arts and body building, drawing, vegan cooking, playing chess, gardening, and writing. He especially enjoyed jazz music and loved playing his many saxophones in the courthouse and beyond. He was truly a renaissance man.

He is survived by his mother, Ruth Octavia Hill; children, Imani Hudson Hill of Atlanta, Ga., and Barake Lamont Hill; siblings, William Hill, Jr., Tanya Y.

Hill of Englewood, N.J., Lonnie A. Hill, Betty I.

Hill, and Kenneth J. Hill of Los Angeles, Calif.; sisteraunt, LaVenia E. Bell; and siblings in love, Carson Harris, Jacqueline Hill, Pamela Hill Harkenride, Tommy Hill, Clayburn Hill, Andre Hill; along with a host of devoted aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and colleagues.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Hill, Sr.; brother, Allen Hill; grandmothers, Annie Baugh and Treopia Bell; and grandfathers, Charlie Baugh, Archester Hill, and Andrew Bell.

Family Hour: Saturday, January 7, 2023, 10-11:30 a.m., at Ruffin and Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 S.

Chester St., Little Rock, Ark., 72202. His homegoing celebration will follow immediately thereafter.

[ Editor’s Note: Obituary information provided by Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home of Little Rock.