AttorneyLuther Oneal Sutter, II
Sutter & Gillham, PLLC
310 W. Conway St., Benton, Arkansas, 72015
Arkansas Civil Rights Trial Lawyer
Luther Oneal Sutter, II is a prominent civil rights and trial attorney based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with decades of experience representing individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated by law enforcement and government entities. He is a principal attorney at Sutter & Gillham, P.L.L.C., a firm known throughout Arkansas for its aggressive and principled advocacy on behalf of victims of police misconduct, excessive force, and civil rights abuses. Sutter has built a reputation as one of the most tenacious civil rights litigators in the state, taking on cases that other attorneys decline and pressing them through federal and state courts with skill and persistence.
Throughout his career, Sutter has litigated numerous civil rights cases under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, challenging unconstitutional conduct by police officers, sheriff's deputies, jail and prison officials, and other government actors. His practice encompasses wrongful death claims arising from officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths, excessive force, false arrest and imprisonment, and systemic civil rights violations. He has appeared extensively in federal district courts across Arkansas and has argued appeals before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, developing significant expertise in the legal standards governing qualified immunity and constitutional torts.
Sutter is recognized by his peers and adversaries alike as a formidable advocate who combines thorough legal preparation with a deep commitment to his clients' causes. He has recovered substantial settlements and verdicts on behalf of families and individuals harmed by government misconduct, and he continues to be a leading voice for accountability in Arkansas law enforcement. His work has contributed meaningfully to the development of civil rights jurisprudence in the Eighth Circuit and has brought justice to clients who might otherwise have had no recourse against powerful government defendants.
Notable Results
- Significant 2025-2026 federal appellate work regarding the ability to sue adverse parties for constitutional violations
- Primary force in holding Arkansas law enforcement accountable for excessive force
Key Characteristics
- Has litigated civil rights cases under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against law enforcement agencies and government entities throughout Arkansas for over two decades.
- Regularly appears in federal district courts and before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of victims of police misconduct and government civil rights violations.
- Handles wrongful death cases arising from officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths, recovering compensation for surviving family members.
- Recognized as one of Arkansas's leading civil rights trial attorneys with experience challenging excessive force, unlawful searches and seizures, and unconstitutional detention.
- Co-founded Sutter & Gillham, P.L.L.C., a firm dedicated in substantial part to civil rights and constitutional litigation in Arkansas state and federal courts.