Hannah and Danielson recused themselves from the ensuing obstruction lawsuit, with Governor Hutchinson appointing Brett Watson of Searcy to replace Hannah for the case. Hannah retired effective September 1, 2015 due to health concerns. Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Howard Brill to complete Hannah's term. He died in Searcy on January 14, 2016, aged 71. Hannah was interested in federalism, and the role state supreme courts play in citizen's daily lives. He sat on "The Reemergence of State Constitutional Law and the State High Courts in the 21st Century" panel discussion at the inaugural "State Constitutional Commentary Symposium" sponsored by the Albany Law Review in 2007, and later published an article in the journal. He was nominated to the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute by President Barack Obama in 2010, and was renominated in 2012.