(a) It shall be the duty of the circuit court to impanel a jury of twelve (12) persons, as in other civil cases, to ascertain the amount of compensation the Arkansas Department of Transportation shall pay.

(b) The matter shall proceed and be determined as in other civil cases.

(c) In all cases of infants or persons of unsound mind, when no legal representative or guardian appears in their behalf at the hearing, it shall be the duty of the court to appoint a guardian ad litem, who shall represent their interest for all purposes.

(d) Compensation shall be ascertained and awarded in the proceeding and established by judgment therein.

(e)

(1) Judgment shall include, as a part of the just compensation awarded, interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum on the amount finally awarded as the value of the property, from the date of the surrender of possession to the date of payment, but interest shall not be allowed on so much thereof as may have been paid into court.

(2) No sum so paid into court shall be charged with commission or poundage.

(f) All courts and juries in cases of condemnation of lands for rights-of-way for state highways shall take into consideration the fact that lands are required to be assessed at fifty percent (50%) of their true value and shall also take into consideration the fact that owners of automobiles and trucks living miles off a state highway pay the same gasoline and auto license tax as those being fortunate enough to own land adjoining a state highway. Any court or jury considering claims for right-of-way damages shall deduct from the value of any land taken for a right-of-way the benefits of the state highway to the remaining lands of the owner.

(g) All suits involving the validity of subsection (f) of this section, or any portion thereof, shall be deemed matters of public interest and shall be advanced and disposed of at the earliest possible moment, and appeals in such suits must be taken and perfected within thirty (30) days from the date of the judgment or decree.