State Bar of Georgia Announces New Leadership, Award Winners
The 52,000-member organization announced its newly elected leaders and also handed out awards at its annual meeting June 3 on Amelia Island, Florida.
July 01, 2022 at 07:01 PM
5 minute read
President's Cup, Award of Merit
The Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys received the President's Cup for 2022, as well as the Award of Merit for voluntary bar associations with more than 500 members. The President's Cup is a traveling award that is presented annually to the voluntary bar association with the best overall program. The Award of Merit is presented to voluntary bar associations for their dedication to improving relations among local lawyers and devoting significant hours to serving their communities.
Best Website Award, Best New Entry Award
The Georgia Association of Women Lawyers received the Best Website Award for voluntary bar associations with more than 500 members and the overall Best New Entry Award. The Best Website Award is given to local and voluntary bar associations with websites that exemplify excellence in usefulness, ease of use, content and design in meeting the needs of the website's targeted audience. The Best New Entry Award is presented to recognize the excellent efforts of voluntary bar associations that have entered the Law Day or Award of Merit competitions for the first time in four years.
Section Awards
The State Bar's Privacy & Technology Law Section, chaired by Christina D. McCoy of Atlanta, received the 2021-22 Section of the Year Award. The Section Awards of Achievement went to:
- Equine Law Section, chaired by Philip H. Burrus IV of Burrus Intellectual Property Law Group in Atlanta
- Health Law Section, chaired by Keri F. Conley of the Georgia Hospital Association in Atlanta; and
- Taxation Law Section, chaired by Jeffrey L. Cohen of Bomar Law Firm in Atlanta.
Best Newsletter Award
The Atlanta Bar Association earned the 2022 Best Newsletter Award for voluntary bar associations with more than 500 members. The Best Newsletter Award is presented to voluntary bar associations that provide the best informational source to their membership, according to their size.
Marshall Professionalism Award
Benjamin F. Easterlin IV of Atlanta and Western Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Lawton E. Stephens of Athens each received with the 21st annual Chief Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism Award. This award, presented by the State Bar's bench and bar committee, honors one lawyer and one judge who have continued to demonstrate the highest professional conduct and paramount reputation for professionalism. A State Bar member since 1974, Easterlin was a partner at King & Spalding in Atlanta and served as the State Bar's president of the in 1996-97, as chair and executive director of the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission and as chair of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. According to his LinkedIn profile, Stephens has been a superior court judge since 1991, served as a state representative from 1987-91 and was a private-practice attorney for 10 years before being elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.
Young Lawyers Division Awards
The State Bar's Young Lawyers Division (YLD) presented the following Awards of Achievement:
- Distinguished Judicial Service Award: Justice Shawn Ellen LaGrua, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta; Augusta Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Amanda N. Heath, Augusta; U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Linda T. Walker, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta
- Ross Adams Award: Jonathan B. Pannell, Gray Pannell & Woodward, Savannah
- Joe Dent Hospitality Award: Carlos A. Fernandez, Freeman Mathis & Gary, Atlanta
- 18th Annual YLD Ethics & Professionalism Award: Katie Rose Martin, LaGrange
- Elissa Haynes Champion for Justice Award: Christopher E. Bruce, The Bruce Firm, Atlanta; Norbert D. "Bert" Hummel IV, Hummel Law LLC, Kennesaw
- Bert Hummel Profile in Courage Award (aka The Heart of a Lion Award): 2021-22 State Bar of Georgia president Elizabeth L. Fite, Rogers Fite, Atlanta; Elissa B. Haynes, Freeman Mathis Gary, Atlanta; Christopher P. Twyman, Cox Byington Twyman, Rome; Jessica J. Wood, Bodker Ramsey Andrews Winograd & Wildstein, Atlanta
- Griffin Bell Triumph in Leadership Award: Fite; Chief Justice David E. Nahmias, Supreme Court of Georgia, Atlanta
- Award of Excellence for Dedication to the YLD: Ivy N. Cadle, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, Macon; Michael B. Terry, Bondurant Mixson & Elmore, Atlanta
- Award of Achievement for Service to the Bar: Kindall E. Browning, Georgia Legal Services Program, Macon; J. Kyle Davis, Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, Augusta; Samantha Mullis, Augusta University, Augusta
- Award of Achievement for Service to the Profession: Chanel O. Chauvet, Hampton; Carlos A. Fernandez, Freeman Mathis & Gary, Atlanta; Meredith L. "Merry" Layman, Pooler; Lindsey S. Macon, McArthur Law Firm, Atlanta; Jamie McDowell, Fields Howell, Atlanta; Mishael K. Najm, Atlanta; Kathryn B. "Kate" Reddy, Kenneth S. Nugent, Duluth
- Award of Achievement for Service to the Public: Audrey B. Bergeson, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Atlanta; Veronica Rogusky Cox, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Atlanta; Hannah M. Couch, Macon; Jena G. Emory, Copeland Stair Valz & Lovell, Atlanta; Virginia C. Josey, Glass & Robson, Atlanta; Morgan Lyndall, Flanagan Law, Atlanta; Jamie B.J. Rush, Southern Poverty Law Center, Decatur
- Outstanding YLD Affiliate: Savannah YLD, Savannah
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