Carleton Harris

{{Short description|American judge (1909–1980)}}

Frank Carleton Harris{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinamerica0000unse_i9z3/page/378/mode/2up|title=Who's Who in American Law|edition=2nd|year=1979|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|page=378|isbn=978-0-8379-3502-7 }} (December 31, 1909 – December 21, 1980){{cite web|url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/carleton-harris-8917/ |title=Carleton Harris (1909–1980)|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|access-date=December 19, 2020}}Arkansas Courts, [https://www.arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/portrait%20brochure2016.pdf A Self-Guided Tour of Justice Building Portraits] (2016), p. 11. was a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court from 1957 to 1980.

Born in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas, Harris received his law degree from Cumberland University. He served three terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives, from 1932 to 1938,Tom Dygard, "Three Judges in Race", Hope Star (July 28, 1956), p. 7. and served as a prosecuting attorney for several Arkansas counties.

As a chancellor, Harris implemented a requirement that divorcing couples wait thirty days before moving forward with their permission, which reportedly reduced the number going through with the divorce, and which was later adopted as state law.

Harris announced his consideration of a candidacy for Chief Justice of Arkansas in April 1956."P. B. Man Seeks Chief Justice Post", Hope Star (April 19, 1956), p. 9. He won the Democratic primary in August 1956,"Harris and 2 Jones' Win in the State", Hope Star (August 16, 1956), p. 22. effectively insuring his election to the seat, which he assumed the following January. He remained on the court until 1980, when he was diagnosed with cancer and retired to undergo surgery. Harris died later that year, at the age of 71.