The Arkansas House of Representatives on Friday elected Rep. Darrin Williams (D-Little Rock) to serve as Speaker-designate of the 88th General Assembly.

Rep. Darrin L. Williams is serving his second term in the Arkansas House of Representatives. He represents District 36, which includes part of Pulaski County. He currently serves as chair of the House Judiciary Committee. He also serves on the House Rules Committee and the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs. Representative Williams is an attorney with Carney Williams, PLLC. A graduate of Little Rock Central High School, he earned a bachelor's degree from Hendrix College, and he graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. He previously served as an aide to former U.S. Sen. David Pryor and later chief of staff and chief deputy to former Arkansas Attorney General Mark Pryor. The Arkansas Speaker of the House presides over the body and is elected by the membership every two years. The Speaker assigns committee leadership and names members to select committees. Other duties include recognizing members to speak on the House floor, preserving order in the House, and assigning bills to the proper committee. The 89th General Assembly will vote to confirm the Speaker-designate as Speaker when it convenes in January 2013.