Josie Bates

Research Associate and Website Coordinator

Josie Bates was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2020, she graduated cum laude from the University of Arkansas with degrees in English and Psychology. She is in her second year at the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she serves as Chapter President of the Women’s Law Student Association and Chapter President of OutLaw. Outside of legal research, Josie enjoys traveling and walking her dogs, Atlas and Apollo.

Martin Arroyo Jr.

Senior Research Assistant

Martin Arroyo Jr. was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Political Science. He is currently attending the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he serves as a Note and Comment Editor for the Arkansas Law Review and is working to continue growing the Hispanic Law Student Association. He enjoys everything law related but has been known to take a break from his legal research to enjoy good comics and manga.

Garrett Bannister

Research Assistant

Garrett Bannister was born in College Station, Texas and was raised in Yukon, Oklahoma.  He graduated from St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Oklahoma with a degree in Theology. He is a second-year law student at the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he serves as a Staff Editor for the Arkansas Law Review. Apart from school, Garrett enjoys spending time with his wife and two year-old daughter.

Jace Motley

Research Assistant

Jace Motley was born and raised in Conway, Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Political Science & International Relations. He then served as a Legislative Aide for Senator John Boozman (AR) in Washington, DC, where he supported all facets of the legislative process and aided in the congressional oversight of various federal agencies. He is currently a second-year student at the University of Arkansas School of Law where he serves as a Staff Editor for the Arkansas Law Review and received the Judge Thomas F. Butt Award for Excellence in Legal Writing. In his free time, you can find him reading historical biographies, assembling charcuterie boards, or playing with his golden retriever, Tucker.