Thank you for your continued support of Alabama Law.
I’m proud to report that our law school remains strong. According to National Jurist, we are among the top three “best value” law schools in the nation. Our students graduate with a wealth of professional opportunities and, on average, with a much lower debt load than many of their peers. Your generosity enables us to recruit world-class faculty and to provide significant scholarship support that helps keep an Alabama legal education affordable.
This past year we welcomed eight new faculty members, each bringing valuable expertise to our classrooms and clinics. Our Criminal Defense Clinic students secured the release of an inmate who had been subject to abuse in a federal prison. Eight Appellate Advocacy Clinic students presented oral arguments before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Our Federalist Society student organization was named National Chapter of the Year. Our American Constitution Society likewise had a banner year, sponsoring a number of events surrounding the election, including a panel on civil discourse co-sponsored with their Federalist Society colleagues. We’ve added over seventy alumni class co-chairs, who are helping us stay in better touch with their classmates and the Law School, and we’ve more than doubled our annual giving over the past twelve months.
Your contributions — whether through mentoring, networking, or financial support — make a big difference. Here’s an example. The executive board of our Black Law Students Association recently renamed our law school’s chapter in honor of Professor Bryan Fair: The Bryan K. Fair Chapter of the Black Law Students Association. This recognition reflects Professor Fair’s tremendous impact on Alabama Law students over the past 30+ years. The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama also recently named Professor Fair a Distinguished Teaching Professor in light of his exceptional contributions in the classroom. It’s important to note that Professor Fair’s ongoing teaching, research, and service at our law school have been made possible, in part, through an alumni-funded endowed professorship established in the 1980s. No one knew at that time what fruit would come from that generous gift, but that one investment has touched the lives of thousands of students.
Throughout my tenure as dean, I’m going to continue to ask you to share your time, knowledge, and resources with us. It's not just because we need your support — though we do. It’s also because I believe our law school is worth investing in. The University of Alabama School of Law has produced great leaders for our communities, our State, and our nation, and will continue to do so after we are gone. Our alums will make a difference in the lives of countless others. We all have an important role in continuing to build that legacy. Thank you for being an integral part of the Alabama Law community. As your circumstances allow, I invite you to join me in creating new opportunities that will help our students thrive. I am deeply grateful for your support.
Respectfully,
William S. Brewbaker III Dean and Professor of Law
from around the Law School
Alabama Law Welcomes the Class of 2027
In August, the Law School welcomed the Class of 2027 into the Alabama Law community. Drawn from a competitive pool of over 1,400 applicants, this 1L class consists of 117 students who represent 23 states and have studied at 48 different colleges and universities. In total, members of this class speak nine different languages and dialects from around the world and have studied, lived, or worked in 19 countries outside of the United States including Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe and South America.
Alabama Law ranked for lowest debt-to-income ratio among public law schools
- Ranked by the National Jurist
Alabama Law ranked for best value law school
- Ranked by the National Jurist
Alabama Law regularly ranks among THE TOP 10 for federal clerkship placements
- Data reported to the ABA
Criminal Defense Clinic Students Secure Release of Abused Inmate
Simone Hampton, Aleah Brown, and Virginia Willis, students in the Criminal Defense Clinic at The University of Alabama School of Law, secured the early release of a woman who was subject to abuse and retaliation by prison staff while incarcerated at FCI Dublin in California.
The prison has been under investigation for some time, and at least eight of its employees have been charged with crimes against inmates who were housed at that facility. Additional prosecutions and lawsuits against the prison for its culture of sexual abuse have led to its recent closure.
After being transferred to a facility in Alabama — just an hour away from the Law School — the client was referred to the Alabama Law Criminal Defense Clinic. The clinic students spent over 300 hours during the Fall 2023 semester researching new changes in applicable law, applying federal sentencing guidelines and factors, and writing a 300-page motion for compassionate release. The prosecutor assigned to the case did not oppose the release, and in March, the judge granted the motion. The clinic team spent the next day supporting their client while she was released and reunited with her family.
Federalist Society Named Chapter of the Year
The Federalist Society student organization at Alabama Law was recently named Chapter of the Year — the highest honor a Federalist Society chapter can attain — at the 2024 National Student Symposium. The event was hosted by the Federalist Society at Harvard Law School, where the Alabama Law chapter was also recognized as a finalist for the George Washington Award for Innovation.
Aleah Brown, Virginia Willis, and Simone Hampton
3L Leads Team of Apache Helicopters in Flyover Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium
In October, Kyle Wise, 3L and president of the Alabama Military Law Society, led a company of four AH-64 Apache helicopters in the stadium flyover for the Alabama vs. South Carolina football game. Though alumni from Alabama’s ROTC program are often involved in the flyovers, it is rare to have a current student leading the company and piloting the aircraft.
In addition to being a law student, Wise is a commander in the South Carolina National Guard aviation unit where he oversees 36 members of his company. Wise travels to South Carolina several times a month to conduct flights and support his crew while juggling classroom responsibilities.
What’s Next?
Scan the QR code to read the full story.
Wise has accepted an offer to work as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Government Solutions group in Huntsville beginning in Summer 2025.
BLSA Chapter Renamed in Honor of Professor Fair
Last spring, the Executive Board of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Alabama Law renamed its chapter the Bryan K. Fair Black Law Students Association. Professor Fair, who is the Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law, has served as the BLSA chapter advisor more than 30 years.
Scan the QR code to read the full story.
Timeless Tributes: Preserving Alabama Law’s Class Composites
For more than 100 years, the Law School has produced class composite photos to recognize and honor the many generations of students who call Alabama Law their alma mater. These images are of deep historical importance, and they often hold a special place in the hearts of the Law School’s alumni and their families. It isn’t uncommon to see a former student bringing their loved ones, co-workers, and friends to share their photo from their time in law school.
Over time, however, many of the composites began fading because of sun exposure and were at risk of getting damaged. Because a majority of the photos did not have printed or digital backups, the Law School began searching for a way to preserve the images of past Alabama Law students.
“Early [composites] were handmade, with each image carefully pasted with the corresponding name hand lettered onto the matting,” said David Durham, curator of archival collections at Alabama Law. “These composites are unique, oneof-a-kind representations of an important part of our school’s history — many of which are considered high-risk and in need of continued preservation efforts.”
In 2019, to preserve this important tradition and history, David (2000) and Laura Drinkard Hodge (2000) made a generous donation to the Law School Foundation to create the Class Composite Preservation Project Fund. The goal of this fund was to digitize and preserve the composite photos from graduating classes throughout the years, making them accessible for future generations to view.
In August, the Law School installed the Alabama Law Alumni Composite Display at the front entrance of the Law Center. This custom-framed, 65-inch, 4K touch screen, installed in a museum-style base, allows visitors to view and interact with images of Alabama Law alumni from as far back as 1887.
The original composites are now preserved in the John C. Payne Special Collections in the Bounds Law Library and remain available for viewing by appointment.
Contact David Durham, Bounds Law Library Rare Books and Special Collections Curator, to schedule a visit: ddurham@law.ua.edu
Students gathered around the class composite display in the front foyer
A labama Law Welcomes Eight New Faculty Members
Joel Nichols, Vice Dean and Professor of Law
Prior to joining Alabama Law, Nichols served as interim dean of University of St. Thomas School of Law (MN) from 2022-2024 after serving as associate dean for academic affairs from 2013-2022. He is a senior fellow at Emory’s Center for the Study of Law and Religion and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Nichols’ work focuses on the intersection of law and religion, especially in family law, First Amendment law, and human rights. Nichols clerked for Judge Gerald Tjoflat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, practiced complex civil litigation in Washington, D.C., and taught at Pepperdine Law School before moving to St. Thomas. He has served in leadership roles for several sections of the American Association of Law Schools, including as chair of the AALS Section on Associate Deans; participated on accreditation site teams for the American Bar Association; and has worked closely with state and local bar organizations and the Board of Law Examiners.
JD Hsin, Assistant Professor of Law
Professor Hsin comes to Alabama Law from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, where for four years he served as senior counsel in the Office of the Assistant Secretary. In that role, Hsin oversaw the office’s investigations involving students’ rights during the pandemic and advised on several high-profile rulemakings. Before that, Hsin was a law fellow at the American Law Institute, an attorney in Congress and the U.S. Department of Labor, and he began his career clerking on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He earned his law degree from Harvard University, his PhD in philosophy from Johns Hopkins University, and his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. Hsin’s research focuses on education and civil rights, torts, and legal theory.
Amber Polk, Assistant Professor of Law
As a legal philosopher with a primary interest in our collective environmental crises, Polk’s research focuses on rights-based environmentalism as a legal, political, and moral movement. Polk was most recently an assistant professor of law at FIU College of Law and was the teaching fellow for the Environmental Law and Policy LLM program at Stanford Law School. She earned her PhD in philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, her law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law, and her BS in mathematics and BA in philosophy and classics from the University of Pittsburgh. Upon graduation from law school, Polk clerked for Judge Robert W. Trumble in the Northern District of West Virginia and Judge Joseph R. Goodwin in the Southern District of West Virginia. She was also an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law in 2019.
Tobie Smith, Director of Criminal Defense Clinic and Assistant
Professor of Clinical Legal Instruction
Tobie Smith is an assistant professor of Clinical Legal Instruction and director of the Criminal Defense Clinic. Before joining the faculty at Alabama Law, he was an appellate attorney from 2016-2024 with the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Alabama, where he principally represented indigent defendants on appeal. From 2002-2016, he was a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Birmingham, defending children in trial-court and appellate juvenile-delinquency proceedings. His scholarship focuses on criminal and juvenile law and procedure.
Cassandra Adams, Assistant Dean of Public Interest Law and Assistant Professor of Law in Residence
Professor Adams joined Alabama Law from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University where she most recently served as dean of students and community outreach. Before returning to Cumberland, Adams was the dean of students at Wake Forest University School of Law. Prior to her tenure at Wake Forest, she was assistant dean for Cumberland’s Public Interest Program and directed the Externship Program and the Community Mediation Center. She earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Science in public health from Meharry Medical College, and a Bachelor of Arts from Fisk University. Her research interests are in civil and family mediation, restorative justice, victim outreach, and access to justice. She is the 2024 recipient of the Alabama State Bar Michael D. Ermert Award of Merit, the highest honor given by the Alabama State Bar.
The Honorable Scott Coogler, Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law
Judge Coogler (Class of 1981) served as a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama since 2003, including as Chief Judge from 2020-2023. Before his appointment to the federal bench, he was a Circuit Judge in Tuscaloosa. In 2020, he was elected by the judges of the Eleventh Circuit to serve on the Judicial Conference of the United States, which formulates administrative policy for the federal judiciary. Immediately upon his election to the Conference, Judge Coogler was appointed by the Chief Justice to serve on the Executive Committee, which consists of seven members of the Conference. He served in this role for his entire five-year term on the Conference. Judge Coogler has been a mentor to hundreds of Alabama Law students over the years, including the many students who served as his judicial clerks or completed internships/externships in his chambers.
Beth Crutchfield, Interim Director of Domestic Violence Law Clinic and Visiting Assistant Professor of Clinical Legal Instruction
Professor Crutchfield is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Clinical Legal Instruction and Interim Director of the Domestic Violence Law Clinic. Prior to joining the faculty at Alabama Law, Crutchfield worked as an assistant district attorney for Tuscaloosa County from 2001–2024. While with the District Attorney’s Office, she handled both criminal prosecutions and civil child support cases. Additionally, she was actively involved with the design and implementation of the newest version of the Tuscaloosa County Second Chance felony diversion program. Crutchfield also has experience with civil litigation, and she worked as a staff writer and sports editor for a small-town Alabama newspaper prior to attending law school.
Stefania Fusco, Visiting Professor of Law
Dr. Fusco’s research concentrates on intellectual property law and finance. She earned a JSD from Stanford Law School where, for her doctoral dissertation, she conducted an interdisciplinary empirical investigation on patent protection and financial methods. Fusco has presented her research at several national and international IP conferences. She joined the faculty at DePaul College of Law as a visiting assistant professor in fall 2012. In 2014, she became a senior lecturer at Notre Dame Law School. She teaches copyright law, patent law, trademark law, international and comparative intellectual property law, design law, and corporate finance.
SPOTLIGHT Alumni in Public Service
Dawn Oliver (’00) Completes White House Leadership Development Program Fellowship
Montgomery native and Alabama Law alumna Dawn L. Oliver (Class of 2000) — assistant chief counsel for commercial partnerships at NASA — recently completed her time as a fellow in the 2024 White House Leadership Development Program in Washington, D.C. The year-long program, which is sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States, provides senior federal government employees the opportunity to address cross-agency challenges while networking with other federal leaders at the center of U.S. government.
As one of 18 fellows selected to receive this honor, Oliver began her fellowship in October 2023 serving as a senior policy analyst in the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM). In this position, she led a cross-agency working group made up of payment integrity professionals from 20+ federal agencies to rewrite the guidance that implements the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIIA). Oliver has also served on a Joint Management Improvement Program payment integrity working group — a cooperative effort to promote continuous improvement of federal financial management across the Office of Management and Budget, the Government Accountability Office, the Department of the Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management.
“This experience has provided a wonderful opportunity to contribute to a high priority challenge that impacts the whole of government and the American public,” said Oliver. “My career has been enriched because I have gained an experience that provided me a broader perspective of the federal government priorities, and I have stretched myself in a way that allows me to return to NASA with additional skills, knowledge, and abilities that will make me even more effective at enabling the mission of NASA. Working at the center of government provided me a unique experience that gave me an even greater appreciation for the opportunity to be a public servant.”
Upon completing her fellowship in September 2024, Oliver returned to Houston to continue her work for NASA as the assistant chief counsel for commercial partnerships at the Johnson Space Center. Over the course of her tenure, she has served as counsel for NASA’s Institutional Review Board, primary legal advisor to the NASA Science Mission Directorate and Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, and as the Board Executive to the NASA Legal Leadership Board. She has also received multiple honors and recognitions, including being named NASA Attorney of the Year in 2016.
Reflecting on the career path she has taken since law school, Oliver pointed out that her initial introduction to NASA came through a fellow Alabama Law alumnus.
“The individual who interviewed and ultimately hired me to serve as an attorney at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center was an Alabama Law graduate,” said Oliver. “It is my belief that in addition to my qualifications and demonstrated commitment to public service, I was selected because he knew the value of a person who graduated from this law school. He provided me an opportunity because of my Alabama Law education and experience.”
As a student, Oliver took advantage of several internship and legal clinic opportunities available at Alabama Law, and she was one of the first recipients of the Order of the Samaritan award — the highest honor granted by the Law School’s Public Interest Institute.
Colonel Daniel Everett (’03): U.S. Army Chief Litigation Counsel Retires
Alabama
State Bar
Elects
Two years after graduating at the top of his class from Alabama Law, Colonel Daniel J. Everett (2003) argued his first military court-martial felony case. This past July, nearly 20 years after that case, he retired from his position as Chief Litigation Counsel for the United States Army.
In this position, Everett led a team of 28 attorneys and litigation support staff responsible for approximately 600 active civil lawsuits — navigating some of the Army’s most challenging cases including military naturalization screenings, vaccine mandates, and litigation involving the release of agency records surrounding the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Reflecting on his time as a student at Alabama Law, Everett shared, “The skills I learned from faculty such as Professors Bucy (Pierson), Colquitt, and Gamble gave me the skills to begin my litigation career early and walk into court with confidence. The curriculum was set up with a good balance of theory and practice ... this prepared me to excel as an attorney from day one.”
Since his retirement, he has taken a new path — enrolling in the Culinary Institute of America in New York.
an Alabama Law Alumnus as President for Third Consecutive Year
Tom Perry, Jr. (1986) President of the Alabama State Bar (2024-2025)
Fred Helmsing, Jr. (1996) President-Elect (2025-2026)
Brannon Buck (1997) Immediate Past President (2023-2024)
Daniel Everett with his Alabama football signed by Nick Saban
Board of Governors and Leadership Council
The Law School Foundation Board of Governors 2024-2025
PRESIDENT
Laura L. Crum
VICE PRESIDENT
Jerry F. Perkins, Jr.
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
GOVERNORS
J. Alan Bannister
Travis M. Bedsole, Jr.
Hon. Sonja Bivins
M. Stan Blanton
Andrew P. Campbell
Mark Crosswhite
J. Leigh Davis
L. Susan Doss
Hon. John England III
Frederick G. Helmsing, Jr.
J. Bradford Hicks
Paula Hinton
W. Michael House
Elizabeth H. Huntley
Jini Koh
Curtis O. Liles III
Kimberly B. Martin
James M. Pool
Jerry W. Powell
Julia Smeds Roth
Kimberly K. Rucker
John D. Saxon
Alfred F. Smith, Jr.
John A. Smyth III
J. Michael Taylor
M. Chad Tindol
Michael D. Waters
EMERITUS
SECRETARY
Richard J.R. Raleigh, Jr.
Hon. W. Harold Albritton III
Hon. Milton E. Belcher
William N. Clark
John D. Clements
Brittin T. Coleman
N. Lee Cooper
Samuel N. Crosby
Gregory S. Cusimano
W. Anthony Davis
Richard T. Dorman
Thomas R. Elliott, Jr.
Judy Whalen Evans
Dean Charles W. Gamble
Gene Hamby, Jr.
Ben H. Harris, Jr.
William P. Jackson, Jr.
Frank S. James III
D. Paul Jones, Jr.
Stephen D. Kane
Byrd R. Latham
S. Jack Livingston
M. Dale Marsh
James H. Miller III
Larry W. Morris
Sydney S. Smith
Lowell Womack
EX OFFICIO
TREASURER Fournier J. Gale III
Dean William S. Brewbaker III
Mike Brock
Myla Calhoun
W. Davis Malone
Evelyn V. Mauldin
Scott M. Phelps
Edward S. Reisinger
Ken O. Simon
Sid J. Trant
The Alabama Law Alumni Society Leadership Council
CHAIR
Edward S. Reisinger
COUNCIL
Steven Arango
Hampton Baxley
Stanley Blackmon
Richard Brock
Ellen I. Brooks
Brannon J. Buck
Mary Margaret Carroll
Caroline Cease
Rochelle Conley
J. Sydney Cook III
Atticus DeProspo
Derin B. Dickerson
Christopher Driver
Prim F. Escalona
Sharonda Fancher
Christian Fuller
J. Kirkman Garrett
Vincent J. Graffeo
Mac B. Greaves
Christopher B. Harmon
H. Thomas Heflin, Jr.
Ann P. Hill
Perry G. Jackson
Justin Jones
David F. Lasseter
Deborah J. Long
Jay Malone
Marcus M. Maples
VICE CHAIR
Kitty Rogers Brown
Appie O. Millsaps
A. Clark Morris
Stephen Nichols
Frances K. Quick
James H. Richardson
Yvonne A. Saxon
Bruce B. Siegal
Dakota Slaughter
Brad J. Sklar
John Q. Somerville
H. Harold Stephens
O. Kevin Vincent
India Williams
SECRETARY / TREASURER
Jenna M. Bedsole
EMERITUS
Hon. Joe Basenberg
Mark S. Boardman
J.R. Brooks, Jr.
Stanley D. Bynum
Charles F. Carr
Frank J. Daily
J. Mason Davis, Jr.
Clausen Ely, Jr.
Henry I. Frohsin
Charles Goodrich
Ruth Ann Hall
Hon. R. Bernard Harwood, Jr.
Richard S. Jaffe
J. Douglas McElvy
Mac M. Moorer
C. Delaine Mountain, Sr.
Leroy D. Nix
John A. Owens
Anita Perkins Roberson
Nicholas B. Roth
John W. Smith T
Stephen W. Still, Sr.
Michael S. Stutts
Anne Stone Sumblin
Hon. J. Edward Tease
James C. Walsh
Alabama Law Names 2024 Alumni Award Recipients
Last spring, the Law School hosted the annual 2024 Alabama Law Alumni Society Banquet at The Haven in Birmingham. At the event, Alabama Law honored seven distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions to the legal community and the Law School.
Sam W. Pipes Distinguished Alumni Award
The Sam W. Pipes Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Law School Foundation. It recognizes an outstanding alumni who has distinguished themselves through service to the Bar, The University of Alabama, and the School of Law.
W. MIKE HOUSE (CLASS OF 1971)
Mike House received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in 1968, then enrolled at The University of Alabama School of Law, where he earned his JD in 1971. Following graduation, House served as chief of staff to then-Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Howell Heflin, where he was responsible for the legislative program for the Alabama Court System. He worked on a number of important matters during his time with the Court, but, most importantly, the drafting and passage of the Judicial Article constitutional amendment in 1973 and the implementation legislation in 1975. (Read more about this on page 18.)
Because of his work on court reform, House became the youngest person to ever receive an Award of Merit from the Alabama State Bar Association. During his time in Montgomery, House also served as president of the Alabama Young Lawyers, chairman of the Alabama Citizens Conference on Alabama State Courts, and chairman of the Alabama Citizens Conference on a New Constitution.
House then moved to Washington, D.C., where he turned his attention from the judicial to the legislative branch, serving as a legislative clerk to the Senate Banking Committee and as a legislative assistant to Congressman James M. Collins of Texas. When Howell Heflin ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1978, House served as his campaign manager. This led to an eight-year career as Senator Heflin’s chief of staff.
This combination of campaign, legislative and administrative experience propelled House to success in the government relations field in Washington. He founded and led the legislative practice of Shaw Pittman three years before moving to Hogan Lovells. House had a successful 28-year career with Hogan Lovells’ Government Relations and Policy Advocacy practice group, where he developed a national reputation as a strategist and problem solver. House later opened his own lobbying practice, Oak Grove Strategies, in 2020. He has been recognized by countless organizations who have named him a top legislative lawyer and lobbyist in Washington, including Washingtonian Magazine, The Hill, Chambers USA, Who’s Who, The Best Lawyers of America, and D.C. Super Lawyers
House has served The University of Alabama as a member of the President’s Cabinet and as a board member and past chairman of the board of the Blackburn Institute. He began his service on the Law School’s alumni society board in 1991, serving as chair from 2008-2010, and joining the Law School Foundation Board of Governors in 2010. House has held nearly every leadership position in the Foundation, including secretary, vice president, and president. He served as chair of the Law School’s Strategic Planning Committee from 2019-2021, helping guide the process that set the Law School on a path to continue to reach new heights with an eye toward student success, faculty growth, and facilities improvements. While serving as an adjunct professor for the Law School, House has also been integral to the success of the Washington, D.C., Externship Program.
Alabama Lawyer Hall of Honor Inductees
The Alabama Lawyer Hall of Honor was established in 2020 by the Board of Governors of the Law School Foundation to recognize the outstanding achievement of Alabama Law alumni and faculty. Criteria for the award include making significant and extended contributions to the life of the Law School, having a distinguished career, and sustaining involvement in service activities.
JUDY WHALEN EVANS (CLASS OF 1975)
Judy Whalen Evans has been a well-respected civil trial litigator for nearly 50 years in Jefferson County, Alabama. Evans received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Alabama with highest honors and earned her JD from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1975.
While in Law School, Evans was the first female president of the Student Bar Association, a Hugo L. Black Scholar, a recipient of the Dean’s Award, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and was recognized by Who’s Who in American Universities
Evans has remained involved at Alabama Law. For the past 15 years, Evans has served on the Law School Foundation Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Board of Governors. She is also a former president of the Law School Alumni Association and has served as an adjunct professor in trial advocacy. Evans is a Law School Patron and a supporter of her alma mater, the University of North Alabama. Because of scholarships awarded to her as a student, Evans was inspired to endow two scholarships at UNA to aid students interested in attending law school.
Evans was the first female officer elected to the Birmingham Bar Association and remains a longtime member of the American, Alabama, and Birmingham Bar Associations and the Association for Legal Justice.
She attends the St. Thomas Episcopal Church and has two adult children, Maurine C. Evans and D. Patrick Evans, both of whom are accomplished trial lawyers in Birmingham.
VANESSA LEONARD (CLASS OF 1995) *
Vanessa Leonard was a member of The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and a practicing attorney in Rockford, Alabama. She was known for her passion for families, education, and young people, and her practice focused on probate, property, and juvenile matters. After beginning her career at Emory University, Leonard found success in higher education consulting, including five years with the national accounting firm KPMG and two years at her own consulting firm. Leonard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health care management from The University of Alabama in 1983 and an MBA from the University of Mississippi in 1992. She was awarded her JD from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1995.
As a former Alabama assistant attorney general for her county’s Human Resources Department, she handled child support and protective services matters. She served as general counsel for her church and adviser to other nonprofit organizations in her area. Leonard was a member of Protective Life Corp. Board of Directors, served on the Lake Martin Area United Way Board and the Governor’s Task Force to Strengthen Alabama Families, and was a Leadership Alabama alumna and an ex officio member of the Law School Foundation Board of Governors.
Alabama Lawyer Hall of Honor Inductees
ROBERT F. PRINCE
(CLASS OF 1974) *
Robert F. Prince founded what is now the law firm of Prince Glover Hayes P.C. in 1975. In addition to running his practice, he served for 40 years as an adjunct professor, teaching and coaching trial advocacy at Alabama Law.
Prince received his BS degree from The University of Alabama in 1970 and his JD from the Law School in 1974. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1971-1977. Prince was a member of the Tuscaloosa and Alabama Bar Associations. During his long and successful career, Prince tried numerous criminal and civil cases, obtaining multi-million-dollar jury verdicts in both state and federal courts. He held every office in the Alabama Association for Justice, including president in 2008, and he served as a member of the President’s Cabinet for The University of Alabama.
Prince was a Board Certified Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and a Master Bencher with the Tuscaloosa Inn of Court. He was the recipient of CLE Alabama’s Walter P. Gewin Award and the Bench and Bar’s Outstanding Alumnus Award. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of West Alabama.
Prince was married to Dena Drury Prince (Class of 1980), and has four children, Courtney, Mary Elizabeth, Will, and Grace, and eight grandchildren.
M. WAYNE WHEELER (CLASS OF 1966)
Wayne Wheeler has been practicing law in his hometown of Birmingham for over 50 years, representing both individuals and businesses. He received his BA from Birmingham-Southern College in 1965 and went on to earn a JD from Alabama Law in 1966. He is the owner of M. Wayne Wheeler P.C. — a law firm initially started by his grandfather Robert James Wheeler, who opened his practice shortly after receiving his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1902.
In 2007, Wheeler established the Judge Robert J. Wheeler Scholarship Fund at Alabama Law in honor of his grandfather’s legacy. Because of Wheeler’s generous contributions, the fund has grown to a level where multiple Alabama Law students are now supported by this scholarship each year. Wheeler also plays an active mentoring role by regularly hosting luncheons and offering career advice to these scholarship recipients. Throughout his career, he has provided significant leadership and meaningful service to his alma mater and the legal profession. Wheeler taught as a professor at the Birmingham School of Law for five years, and he is an active member of the Birmingham Bar Association, Alabama State Bar, and American Bar Association.
* The University of Alabama School of Law community is proud to honor Vanessa Leonard's and Robert Prince's outstanding careers and personal achievements. We are grateful for their thoughtful and selfless service that spanned their entire lives. In acknowledging their recent passings, we extend heartfelt condolences to their families, colleagues, and loved ones. We miss them greatly.
Alabama Rising Young Attorney Award Recipients
Established in 2020, the Alabama Rising Young Attorney Award recognizes a recent graduate or graduates who have shown significant leadership and purposeful service to the legal profession, their community, and the School of Law.
STANLEY E. BLACKMON (CLASS OF 2015)
Stanley E. Blackmon is a 2015 graduate of The University of Alabama School of Law and a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in the Birmingham office. He regularly handles a diverse range of trial and appellate matters, having briefed and argued cases in a number of state and federal appellate courts.
Blackmon serves his community by maintaining an active pro bono practice and supporting the Law School as a member of the Alabama Law Alumni Society Leadership Council. He is the immediate past president of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section and is an elected member of BBA’s Executive Committee. Blackmon was named a 2023 Fellow of Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and has been recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, and Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars for his appellate work.
Before entering the private sector, Blackmon served as a law clerk to Judge Carl E. Stewart of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2015-2016).
CHRISTOPHER B. DRIVER (CLASS OF 2015)
Christopher B. Driver is a 2015 graduate of The University of Alabama School of Law and a partner at the Birmingham firm of Badham and Buck LLC, where he practices business and commercial litigation. Prior to joining Badham and Buck, Driver clerked for Judge L. Scott Coogler of the Northern District of Alabama.
Driver is actively involved in the legal community. He is currently the president of the Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers Section (YLS), and he has previously served as its treasurer, secretary, and vice president. As part of his service to YLS, Driver has served on the Alabama State Bar Executive Council, represented the Alabama State Bar as a delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates and YLS Assembly, helped plan YLS’s annual Orange Beach CLE, and volunteered several times at the YLS Minority Pre-Law Conference. He also serves on the Birmingham Bar Association’s YLS Executive Committee. In addition, Driver teaches trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at the Law School. He has been recognized as a Birmingham Business Journal Rising Star of Law, a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Business Litigation. Driver is also a member of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham.
Maynard Nexsen, Bradley, and Burr & Forman Make Major Commitments to Path Makers Legacy Plaza
Maynard Nexsen and the firm’s Alabama Law alumni have pledged $250,000 to support the construction of the Path Makers Legacy Plaza at The University of Alabama School of Law. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings and Burr & Forman have each also pledged an additional $150,000 to contribute to the project. Established in 2023, the Plaza will honor the Law School’s first Black graduates and celebrate their historic contributions to the institution. It will be an ADA-accessible outdoor space where students can gather; faculty can hold classes; and the Law School can host events for alumni, visiting scholars, and friends in the community.
“When Dean Brewbaker approached us about possibly contributing to this project, the response from our UA Law graduates was overwhelming,” said Maynard Nexsen’s Chairman, Greg Curran (Class of 1989). “UA Law has been a big part of the success of our firm and continues to provide us with a pipeline of excellently trained associate attorneys year after year. It is our pleasure to give back to an institution that has been a key part of our success.”
Maynard, Bradley, and Burr & Forman join a growing list of organizations and individuals who have made commitments in support of the Path Makers Legacy Plaza including:
$50,000
Alabama Power Foundation
Fournier “Boots” Gale (1969) and Louise Gale
John J. McMahon, Jr. (1968) and Betty T. McMahon
$25,000
Bill Brewbaker and Becky Brewbaker
The Honorable Samarria Dunson (2003) and Kendall Dunson (1996) Lightfoot, Franklin & White
$5,000 - $10,000
The Honorable Sue Bell Cobb (1981) and William Cobb
Elizabeth H. Huntley (1997)
Frank S. James III (1978) and Jothany James
Wesley L. Laird (1986)
Terrence W. McCarthy (1999)
James F. Watkins (1992)
Stephen W. Williams (2010)
Additional Donors
J.R. Brooks (1971)
Ann S. Crosby (1978) and Samuel N. Crosby (1978)
The Honorable Vivian D. Figures
Jini H. Koh (2004)
Vanessa Leonard (1995)
Marcus M. Maples (2006) and Kwoya N. Maples
Robert D. Segall (1971)
Undisclosed Amount
The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
Additional funds are needed to begin the construction of the Path Makers Legacy Plaza at Alabama Law. To learn how you or your organization can make a difference and explore donor recognition opportunities, please contact our Advancement Office at 205-348-5752 or email Caroline Strawbridge at cstrawbridge@law.ua.edu
“We are deeply grateful for these generous contributions we’ve received from Maynard Nexsen, Bradley, and so many others to the Path Makers Legacy Plaza,” said Bill Brewbaker, dean of Alabama Law. “These gifts underscore the importance of honoring those who helped shape the history of our Law School. Their legacy is an enduring reminder of the progress we’ve made and our ongoing efforts to empower future leaders in Alabama and beyond.”
Fifty Years Later: The Judicial Article and the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure
Reflecting on how Alabama Law alumni led the charge in reforming the Alabama Judicial System
By Savannah Kelly
When Alabama became a state, the Common Law of England mandated the way that courts and judicial procedure operated. This included back-and-forth pleadings, many technicalities, and a court system that was difficult for even the most practiced lawyer to understand.
In 1973, Article VI, also known as the Judicial Article, was passed to reform the judicial system in Alabama. Before then, the judicial system was controlled by the legislature, not the courts. As part of his efforts to reform the judicial system, Chief Justice and Senator Howell Heflin (Class of 1948) convinced the state legislature to confer rule-making power on the state Supreme Court rather than the legislature, resulting in the drafting of the Rules of Civil Procedure just two years prior to the passage of the Judicial Article. Many Alabama Law alumni were involved in the effort to reform the judicial system as the “foot soldiers” to Heflin, whose tenacity and passion for judicial reform led to the largest reform in the State since the 1901 Constitution.
Judicial Reform: A Long Time Coming
Prior to the reform in 1973, Alabama had 85 limited jurisdiction trial courts — excluding municipal and probate courts — all of which had different rules and procedures that varied from county to county. This caused confusion for citizens who had to go through the courts because the expectations of the various courts throughout the state lacked any form of consistency or systemic organization. This led to a backlog of cases, some of which took four to five years to make it through the system. At the time, Charles Cole, a professor at Cumberland Law, described Alabama’s court system as “a non-system of courts of varied jurisdictions that were not subject to any centralized administration or accountability.” In addition to being completely decentralized, the legislature – not the judiciary – was tasked with making the rules that dictated how the courts operated. This meant that, oftentimes, judges bent to the will of legislators. The question of the balance of power was “seldom raised,” so the courts were left as-is.
“There was no unified court system in Alabama; it was a collection of all different types of jurisdictions and systems,” said Mike House, former chief of staff to Howell Heflin during his tenure as Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and later as Senator. “You had Appellate Courts, Circuit Courts, and a conglomeration of a variety of courts at the lower county and municipal level. You even had some cases where the Probate Judge was also the County Judge, and, in many instances, it was used to keep Black people down in the Blackbelt.”
This lack of organization and unification at lower-level courts led to a broken Justice of the Peace system in which many of the departments were corrupt. Citizens were picked up for low-level crimes, taken to a Justice of the Peace facility – often a trailer – and made to pay the fine then and there without a trial. The fines were frequently split between the Justices and their sheriffs. The Justices of the Peace faced no regulation, scrutiny, review, or audits. Essentially, they were free to do as they pleased.
Though there had been some efforts to reform the broken system since the implementation of the 1901 Constitution, Governor Emmet O’Neal is credited with beginning the judicial reform effort in Alabama. O’Neal formed a committee to study the judiciary in 1912, which led to the 1915 Special Commission on the Judiciary. This Commission was tasked with simplifying the methods of practice and procedure. They proposed several reforms, but the legislature did not act, because they didn’t want to lose control of the courts.
The Beginnings of Judicial Reform
Forty years later, in 1955, the Alabama Legislature established a Commission for Judicial Reform. The Commission’s members were appointed by the Bench and Bar of the State of Alabama to develop rules and procedures to reshape the Alabama judicial system. However, their efforts were largely ignored until the late 1960s when Howell Heflin made judicial reform his primary mission. While serving as the Alabama State Bar President, he called for the First Citizens’ Conference which was held in Birmingham on December 8-10, 1966. Although Heflin was no longer the State Bar President by the time the meeting convened, he served as the leader of the meeting, chaired by Birmingham lawyer Douglas Arant.
Though Heflin claimed it was a success, the First Citizens’ Conference did not result in immediate change. There was support from the State Senate, its efforts led by C.C. “Bo” Torbert (Class of 1954), who later became Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, and Lieutenant Governor Albert Brewer (Class of 1952), but this support was not shared by Governor George Wallace (Class of 1942). The Speaker of the House assigned the bills to the Highway Safety Committee, and those bills never saw the light of day. Still, Alabama Supreme Court Justice Hugh Maddox (Class of 1957) said that it was “the catalyst for the judicial reform that would later occur.”
Howell Heflin
After the death of Governor Lurleen Wallace, who took office in 1967 following the first gubernatorial term of her husband, George Wallace, Brewer became governor, and the Citizens’ Conference was still in place. The Conference eventually recommended increasing the membership of the Alabama Supreme Court from seven to nine Justices and separated the Court of Civil Appeals and the Court of Criminal Appeals to have three judges each, rather than having one three-judge Court of Appeals.
In 1968, Governor Brewer appointed a Constitutional Revision Commission that was tasked with reviewing and updating the 1901 Constitution. The Constitution had not been substantially revised in the 67 years it had been on the books. Conrad Fowler (Class of 1948) was appointed chairman with William H. McDermott (Class of 1958) serving as vice chairman. Leigh Harrison, former dean of The University of Alabama School of Law (1950-1966), was hired as the executive director, and David Bagwell (Class of 1973) served as Harrison’s research assistant on this project. Over the course of three years, the Commission created an entirely new Constitution. It was during this time that George Wallace was reelected as governor. In 1971, the Commission presented its findings to Governor Wallace, who did not support any reform that could change the balance of power in the state, so the effort to reform the Constitution and the courts was stalled until Howell Heflin was elected as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 1970.
Heflin began the work of judicial reform immediately. In a way, judicial reform was the pet project that he had begun during his tenure as Alabama State Bar President, and now he had reached a point where he could enact real change.
Heflin’s first order of business was to get the judicial system out from under legislative control. Mike Goodrich (Class of 1971), then Heflin’s chief of staff, was tasked with organizing grassroots meetings throughout the state to explain the proposed revisions of the Judicial Article and why those changes were needed.
“When I arrived in the spring of 1971, various bills were introduced that would strengthen the authority of the Supreme Court and allow it to adopt its own Rules of Civil Procedure,” said Goodrich. “A bill was introduced to create a Department of Court Management that [allowed for] a mechanism to alleviate the backlog of cases both at the trial level and at the appellate level.”
In addition to convincing the legislature to grant the state Supreme Court the ability to “promulgate rules of procedure, practice, and pleading for the trial courts,” Heflin also supported the passage of legislation to provide continuing judicial training and education and create the Department of Court Management and the Permanent Study Commission on Alabama Courts. Prior to the creation of the Department of Court Management, the Chief Justice was tasked with managing all aspects of the courts without administrative tools to help with that job. The Department of Court Management also allowed for disciplining judges through methods other than impeachment, which was cumbersome and rarely used. The Permanent Study Commission on Alabama’s Judicial System was directed by Heflin to consider the Judicial Article proposed by Fowler’s Constitutional Commission and became active in the judicial reform effort. By October 1972, the Supreme Court had successfully adjudicated all its cases, and at the beginning of the November 1973 term, the Court of Criminal Appeals had only six pending cases. This was the clearest that the court’s docket had been in recent memory.
“For the first time, you had a streamlined system. [With the] establishment of the Office of Court Management, [the judicial system] wasn’t run like 30-something individual pieces,” said House. “Then, from 1972, the Court had the ability to make the Rules of Criminal and Civil Procedure.... Prior to that, the legislature was the one to make the Rules, and you just couldn’t get anything through.”
The Judicial Article
Though Heflin had small legislative victories early in his tenure as Chief Justice, he knew that court reform would require changing the 1901 Constitution. Under Conrad Fowler, the Constitutional Commission continued its work, despite not being supported by the Wallace administration. While they were tasked with rewriting the entire Constitution, Fowler and his Commission decided to focus just on Article VI, the Judicial Article.
Before the article could pass, it had to get support from the voters. This was a difficult task because the Governor and his followers did not support judicial reform. Even though the Governor was relatively quiet about his position, he still did not want to upset the current balance of power and probably thought that the reforms that Heflin had already achieved were more than satisfactory. Needless to say, Heflin remained unsatisfied.
“In mid-1972, the second phase of judicial reform began,” said Goodrich. “This phase was to incorporate the reforms passed by the legislature into a new constitutional article. This effort would require the vote of the people.”
One of the main perceived issues facing the judicial reform effort was cost. The State brought on consultants who determined that the cost was to be less than 1% of the total budget – far less than was allocated to other branches of government for their operation. Still, organizations like the League of Municipalities and government officials were not supportive.
It was around this time that Heflin convened a Second Citizens’ Conference. Conrad Fowler, a leader at this Citizens’ Conference, explained to its attendees the importance of rewriting the Judicial Article. Heflin also received support from Alabama Supreme Court Justice Hugh Maddox. Maddox was not a natural political ally of the reformers, but he understood that judicial reform was needed, even if the people involved did not agree with him politically. The Conference eventually recommended that the legislature allow the citizens of Alabama to vote on a new Judicial Article — something that the governor hesitated to oppose, as it was arguably the democratic process at work.
On May 22, 1973, the Judicial Article was submitted to the state legislature, introduced by Senator Stewart O’Bannon (Class of 1956) and Representative Bob Hill (Class of 1959). Other Senators who supported the bill included Joe Fine (Class of 1963), Richard Shelby (Class of 1963), and Finis St. John, as well as Lieutenant Governor Jere Beasley (Class of 1962).
Heflin and House mounted a grassroots effort, which began in the northern part of the State, called the “Muscle Shoals Mafia.” House recruited 15,000 people from 50 different organizations across the state, including the Alabama Farm Bureau, the Alabama Motorists Association, the Parent-Teacher Association, the League of Women Voters, the Jaycees, the Alabama Labor Council, the Circuit Judges Association, the District Judges Association, and the Alabama State Bar. They also received support from the mayor of Tuscumbia and president of the Alabama League of Municipalities, William Gardiner, and Circuit Judge Ed Tease (Class of 1964), who helped to lobby the legislature in favor of the new Judicial Article.
“The primary challenge was [securing] adequate funding for the effort,” said House. “Think about it – it was a general election. To give money for this, for court reform, people say, ‘Why should I give you that? I don’t really care.’ I give the Alabama Bar Association a lot of credit; they mounted an extensive campaign to raise the funds.”
Despite all these efforts, the bill still had to make it out of the legislature. It was scheduled as the last bill to come up on the last day of the session, which would terminate at midnight. Representative Hill failed in his first attempt to introduce the bill. Around 8:00 p.m. — with just four hours remaining in the legislative session — he made a final push to reintroduce the bill.
“We brought it up earlier in the evening in the last night of session, and it failed,” said House. “We were devastated. When we brought it up again, there were several amendments proposed on what they call a ‘Judicial Commission’ in various counties. In some counties, you had a Judicial Commission that selected judges, and that was up to each individual county. The people who were proposing these additional amendments were trying to kill the bill.”
House continued, “About 30-45 minutes before [midnight], [Representative Ronnie] Flippo proposed an amendment that took all of those amendments and combined them into one. The people that were against [the bill] thought that Flippo’s amendment would kill it because you had to have the changes that were made in the bill enrolled before it was returned to the Senate for passage – and time was running out.”
But House and Heflin had a trick up their sleeves, which came as a surprise to those who did not support the bill.
“The week before the final day of the legislative session, I had met with the Secretary of the Senate and told him what we were concerned about,” said House. “We wrote up the original House bill like it was but left whole spaces on each page for any potential amendments. When [the bill] came over with Flippo’s amendment, we were able to type it in one of the spaces. At that point, the bill was enrolled and ready to go to the Senate floor for final passage. It passed the Senate with probably about eight minutes to spare, and the opposition in the House was stunned.”
House continued, “It was amazing. It was one of the highlights of my life. At that point, Chief Justice Heflin came to the legislature and thanked and congratulated everybody involved.”
The new Judicial Article was a huge turning point for the Alabama Judicial System. According to John Hayman, author of Heflin’s biography, A Judge in the Senate, eight major changes to the judicial system in Alabama resulted from the Article:
1. The State adopted a unified judiciary, with a two-tier trial court system composed of a circuit court and a district court. Municipal courts were retained but were given the option of merging with the district courts.
2. The Supreme Court had rulemaking power for civil and criminal rules.
3. The legislature became obligated to fund the court system.
4. All trial judges had to be lawyers.
5. Professional standards were established, with a Judicial Inquiry Commission that had the power to make complaints against judges and a court of the judiciary to hear complaints.
6. A commission was established to set judicial salaries that could only be overridden by the legislature.
7. The Supreme Court was required to advise the legislature on changes needed in the number of judgeships and jurisdictional procedures.
8. Broad administrative power to run the court system was vested in the Chief Justice.
This new Judicial Article took Alabama from having one of the worst judicial systems in the country to being a national model that other states looked at to reform their own systems. But the work was not over.
Implementation Legislation
The Judicial Article provided an outline for the new judicial system, but legislation was still needed to fill in the details. In April 1974, Heflin established an Advisory Commission on Judicial Article Implementation to draft the legislation necessary for the implementation of the Judicial Article. The Commission was led by Joseph F. Johnston and Professor Charles Cole. For two days in June of 1974, the full Commission met. They established five committees: District Court Organization, Personnel and Administration, Fiscal and Budgetary, Municipal Courts and Court-Related Agencies, and Prosecution Services. For many months, the Committees worked on their particular projects until all-Commission meetings were held in October and November of 1974, with the final Commission meeting being held in February 1975. The Commission’s report was delivered to the legislature on March 28, 1975, was 198 pages long, and contained 66 recommendations.
On May 25, 1975, C.C. “Bo” Torbert introduced the bill in the Senate. It was introduced in the House a week later.
“It was amazing. It was one of the highlights of my life.”
- Mike House
Mike House
There was support on both sides of the Bar by then. There were some obstinate old-timers that didn’t want to do it, but of course Justice Heflin was a force of nature and had a very persuasive personality.”
Chief Justice Heflin established the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, which consisted of fifteen members: Oakley W. Melton, Jr. (Class of 1951), who chaired the committee, Timothy M. Conway, Jr. (Class of 1949), Frank Donaldson (Class of 1954), J. Foy Guin, Jr. (Class of 1947), Judge James O. Haley, Francis H. Hare, Sr., Judge Joseph M. Hocklander (Class of 1950), Jerome A. Hoffman (Alabama Law professor), James L. Klinefelter (Class of 1951), Jack Livingston (Class of 1950), Justice Champ Lyons, Jr. (Class of 1965), Mayer W. Perloff, Ira D. Pruitt, Sam W. Pipes IV (Class of 1966), and Thomas E. Skinner.
“The awareness that the court was going to do this made it important for the people in the Bar to get on board and have their input,” said Lyons. “The thing that I remember that was really positive about our committee is that we had lawyers from both sides of the Bar who would check that at the door and come in and try to do something as if they were in a judicial capacity that was fair and balanced.”
The Rules, after being promulgated on January 3, 1973, went into effect six months later in July. Justice Lyons eventually wrote four editions of the Rules that govern civil procedure in Alabama still today, and Justice Hugh Maddox published the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure in 1990.
“Reflecting on the legacy of these Alabama Law alumni, I feel very proud of the impact our institution has had on the State,” Dean Bill Brewbaker said. “Part of our mission is to educate and inspire leaders who make a difference in our State, the nation, and the world, and this shows that our alumni have been doing just that for many years.”
The Justices of the Alabama Supreme Court and members of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure after the Rules of Civil Procedure were adopted in January 1973. The Rules went into effect later that year in July.
Images and cartoons provided by the Alabama Supreme Court and State Law Library, Justice Champ Lyons, Jr., and the John C. Payne Special Collections of the Bounds Law Library as a part of the Howell Thomas Heflin Collection. The Howell Thomas Heflin Collection comprises more than 1,100 cubic feet of documents, printed materials, photographs, and artifacts donated by United States Senator Howell Thomas Heflin to The University of Alabama School of Law in December 1996. Contact David Durham, Law School Rare Books and Special Collections Curator, to learn more about the collection: ddurham@law.ua.edu
THE SUMMER SCHOLARS PROGRAM
INCREASING
ACCESS TO LEGAL EDUCATION
Since 2022, Alabama Law has hosted a summer pre-law experience to introduce the study of law to undergraduate students — especially those who may face social, economic, or other barriers that could prevent them from considering a career in law. Alabama Law's Summer Scholars Program admits 15-25 students to live on campus throughout the month of June and attend law classes, present a case in mock trial, participate in a mediation simulation, meet dozens of legal professionals, and visit historically significant sites throughout the State of Alabama.
One student built on his Summer Scholars experience and earned a perfect score on the LSAT. Another, currently a 3L at Alabama Law, found a community of support after losing both parents while in law school. Some, who were initially on the fence about law school, decided on a career in law because of their experiences in the program.
Directed by Assistant Dean Anil Mujumdar, Summer Scholars has been made possible through the generous support of the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation; Derrick (Class of 2003) and Tamesha Mills; the McMahon-Pleiad Prize, administered by The University of Alabama System; Mike Brock (Class of 1984); and other alumni who have invested in making a difference in the lives of potential future lawyers.
Scan the QR code to watch and read the stories of several first-generation law students who participated in the Summer Scholars Program.
Summer Scholars present a case in mock trial.
Summer Scholars pose outside of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
THINKING THE UNTHINKABLE: AI IN THE SERVICE OF JUSTICE
By Yonathan Arbel, Professor of Law Director, Artificial Intelligence Initiative
Acase involving a simple trampoline installation in the quiet town of Fairhope, Alabama, may unexpectedly become the catalyst for a profound shift in legal interpretation. In 2020, James Snell, owner of Outdoor Expressions, installed an in-ground trampoline for a local family. When a young girl later injured herself on the unprotected trampoline, Snell found himself embroiled in a lawsuit. His insurance company refused coverage, claiming that trampoline installation wasn’t part of the “landscaping” his policy covered.
Though seemingly straightforward, this dispute has brought to light a fundamental challenge in legal practice — the interpretation of language — potentially marking the dawn of a new era where artificial intelligence (AI) assists in the pursuit of justice and revolutionizes how we understand and apply the law.
THE CHALLENGE OF LEGAL INTERPRETATION
For centuries, courts have relied on a limited toolkit to interpret the meaning of words in legal contexts. This toolkit primarily consists of dictionaries, precedents, and Latin maxims like “expressio unius” (the expression of one thing implies the exclusion of others) and “contra proferentem” (ambiguous terms should be interpreted against the drafter). Judges, as native speakers, often rely on their intuition about language. However, these traditional methods have clear limitations.
Dictionaries, while useful, can be outdated and miss nuanced meanings. They cannot account for context, which is crucial in understanding language use. Precedents, while valuable for consistency, often lag behind societal changes, potentially leading to interpretations that are out of touch with current language use. Judges, despite their expertise, are frequently criticized for being disconnected from modern or vernacular language.
These limitations can have significant consequences. Misinterpretation of contract terms, statutes, or other legal documents can lead to unjust outcomes, protracted litigation, and inconsistent application of the law. The need for a more robust, context-aware method of interpretation has long been apparent, but, until recently, no viable solution has emerged.
ENTER GENERATIVE INTERPRETATION
The trampoline case was the first time that a judge used the novel approach of “generative interpretation” as a form of legal interpretation.
The essence of this approach is elegantly simple yet profound. Large language models (LLMs), trained on vast amounts of internet text data, can provide insights into how language is actually used and understood in real-world contexts. These models are exposed to more textual data during their training than any single human could read in a hundred lifetimes. Through this process, they develop a statistical understanding of language so comprehensive that some models can even pass the bar exam.
This vast reservoir of language knowledge can be tapped to generate a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of ordinary meaning, potentially revolutionizing how we interpret legal texts. Unlike traditional methods, LLMs can provide context-aware interpretations that reflect current language use across various domains and communities.
This approach is based on my work with Professor David Hoffman of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Soon to be published in the New York University Law Review, it develops the principles for harnessing the power of LLMs like ChatGPT to inform legal interpretation.
JUDICIAL RECOGNITION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
Back to the trampoline. In a groundbreaking concurring opinion, Judge Kevin Newsom of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals boldly proposed what he calls a “heresy” — that AI-powered language models might inform legal interpretation of ordinary meaning. He relied extensively on our work in informing his analysis of the case.
Judge Newsom posed the pivotal question to various models like ChatGPT: “Is installing an in-ground trampoline ‘landscaping’?” The answer, by all models, was “yes.” They interpreted that in common usage with context provided by the judge, installing an in-ground trampoline would indeed be considered part of a landscaping job.
The affirmative response, while not determinative in this case due to other factors, led Judge Newsom to a profound realization: “At the very least, it no longer strikes me as ridiculous to think that an LLM like ChatGPT might have something useful to say about the common, everyday meaning of the words and phrases used in legal texts.”
This judicial recognition marks a significant milestone in the acceptance of AI-assisted legal interpretation. It suggests that the legal community is beginning to seriously grapple with the potential of these technologies to enhance, and perhaps, transform traditional legal reasoning.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS AND BEST PRACTICES
In our work, Hoffman and I sought to go beyond theory and offer practical guidance for implementing generative interpretation in legal practice. We developed best practices for using LLMs, addressing potential pitfalls like prompt bias and artificial intelligence hallucinations. We also demonstrated the method’s potential through case studies, showing how LLMs could have aided courts in resolving complex interpretative puzzles.
For instance, in cases involving the interpretation of insurance policies after Hurricane Katrina, LLMs could have provided insights into the common understanding of terms like “flood” and “storm surge.” In family court disputes over prenuptial agreements, they could offer nuanced interpretations of potentially ambiguous terms. In commercial agreements, LLMs could help clarify industry-specific jargon that might be misunderstood by generalist judges.
Importantly, generative interpretation doesn’t seek to replace traditional methods butto complement them. Where dictionaries offer static definitions and precedents may lag behind societal changes, LLMs can provide real-time insights into language usage across diverse contexts. For instance, in a case involving technical jargon, an LLM could offer nuanced context-aware interpretations based on usage in specific industries, outperforming general-purpose dictionaries.
The implementation of this approach, however, requires careful consideration. We suggest four best practices:
1. Use multiple LLMs to cross-verify results, mitigating the risk of relying on a single model’s potential biases or errors.
2. Clearly document prompts and responses for transparency, allowing for scrutiny and replication of the interpretation process.
3 Always view LLM outputs as advisory rather than determinative, preserving the crucial role of human judgment in legal decision-making.
4. Emphasize the importance of human oversight to catch potential biases or errors in AI responses.
IMPACT ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM
This paradigm shift could significantly impact various stakeholders in the legal system. Lawyers might need to develop new skills in prompt engineering and AI interpretation, potentially changing how they prepare and argue cases. Judges could have access to more comprehensive language data, potentially leading to more informed and consistent decisions. Clients might also benefit from more predictable and consistent legal interpretations, potentially reducing litigation costs and uncertainty.
However, the adoption of generative interpretation also raises important questions about the evolving role of human judgment in law and the potential for overreliance on AI tools. These questions will likely occupy legal philosophers and ethicists for years to come. How do we balance the benefits of AI-assisted interpretation with the need for human discretion and empathy in the legal process? How can we ensure that the use of LLMs doesn’t inadvertently perpetuate or amplify existing biases in the legal system?
BROADER IMPLICATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH
This work on generative interpretation is part of a broader initiative, which I am leading as the director of AI studies at The University of Alabama School of Law. This new initiative seeks to position the Law School at the frontier of legal pedagogy in the nation. As part of this initiative, the school offers an innovative “AI for Lawyers” course, where law students build practical AI tools to assist in legal tasks.
My broader research agenda spans various aspects of AI in law, from managing systemic risks from AI, to integrating AI into the judiciary. I explore offering consumer AI tools to deal with complex legal documents and building new AI tools to simulate how juries and ordinary people determine who is the “reasonable person.” These efforts represent a comprehensive approach to understanding and shaping the role of AI in the legal system and mark the Law School's commitment to innovation in pedagogy and research.
As we stand on the brink of this new era, the potential of AI in legal interpretation is both exciting and challenging. It promises more accurate, consistent, and accessible legal interpretations, potentially reducing litigation and improving access to justice. However, it also raises important questions about the role of human judgment in law and the ethical implications of AI in legal decision-making.
CONCLUSION
In the end, the story of a trampoline in Fairhope, Alabama, may be remembered not for the legal dispute it sparked, but for the transformative ideas it helped to propel into the mainstream of legal thought. As we move forward, frameworks developed by scholars, and forward-thinking jurists like Judge Newsom, will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of legal interpretation in the age of artificial intelligence.
The integration of AI into legal interpretation represents a significant shift in how we approach the law. It offers the potential to make legal interpretation more accurate, consistent, and responsive to real-world language use. At the same time, it challenges us to rethink fundamental aspects of legal reasoning and decision-making.
As this new approach gains traction, it will be crucial to monitor its impacts carefully, refine the methodologies, and ensure that the use of AI in legal interpretation serves the ultimate goal of a fair and just legal system. The symbiotic relationship, with scholarly and judicial work developing in tandem, gives us reason to be optimistic about the future of AI in law.
In the coming years, we can expect to see further developments in this field, with more courts potentially adopting AI-assisted interpretation methods, law schools incorporating AI into their curricula, and legal technology companies developing specialized tools for generative interpretation. The legal profession, known for its traditionalism, stands at the cusp of a technological revolution that could fundamentally change how we understand and apply the law.
As we navigate this new frontier, it will be essential to maintain a balance between embracing the potential of AI and preserving the human elements that are central to the practice of law. The story of generative interpretation is not just about technology; it’s about reimagining how we can make the legal system more accurate, efficient, and ultimately, more just.
NEW SCHOLARSHIPS & FUNDS
The Alabama AI Initiative Support Fund
An anonymous gift was received to establish the Alabama AI Initiative Support Fund. The fund will be used to support artificial intelligence initiatives including legal AI safety research, roundtables, and academic activities related to AI safety.
The Walker Percy Badham III Scholarship
Alumni and friends of W. Percy Badham III contributed funds to create the Walker Percy Badham III Scholarship in his memory.
The Judge J. Edgar Bowron Endowed Law Scholarship
Thomas W. Bowron II of Mountain Brook, Alabama, contributed funds to establish the Judge J. Edgar Bowron Endowed Law Scholarship. Priority consideration will be given to rising third-year students who are residents of the state of Alabama and exhibited promise in litigation. Additional preference will be given to students who are military veterans.
The Mark and Jane Emily Crosswhite Endowed Law Scholarship
Alabama Power Foundation, Inc., established the Mark and Jane Emily Crosswhite Endowed Law Scholarship in honor and celebration of Mark Crosswhite’s career, upon his retirement as chairman, president, and CEO of Alabama Power.
The Justice T. Eric Embry Endowed Law Scholarship
Thomas W. Bowron II of Mountain Brook, Alabama, contributed funds to establish The Justice T. Eric Embry Endowed Law Scholarship. Priority consideration will be given to rising third-year students who have exhibited promise in appellate advocacy.
The Thomas L. Jones Endowed Professorship in Law
Through her estate, Shelley Jones provided funds to create the Thomas L. Jones Endowed Professorship of Law. The Professorship will attract and retain law scholars with priority consideration given to Alabama Law faculty members teaching tax law or working on law reform.
The M. Dale Marsh Endowed Law Scholarship
Through his estate, M. Dale Marsh of Enterprise, Alabama, pledged to establish the M. Dale Marsh Endowed Law Scholarship. Priority consideration will be given to second- or third-year students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average and have been residents of the State of Alabama for no less than five years. Additional consideration will be given to a qualified student from Enterprise or Coffee County, or Dale, Geneva, Covington, Houston, or Henry Counties.
The Martin Family Endowed Law Scholarship
Clay and Kim Martin of Huntsville, Alabama, contributed funds to establish the Martin Family Endowed Law Scholarship. Priority consideration will be given to first-, second-, or third-year law students who are residents of the state of Alabama and who will be first-generation lawyers.
The Margaret A. and Francis E. McGovern II Endowed Support Fund
Henry McGovern of Delaware City, Delaware, contributed funds to establish the Margaret A. and Francis E. McGovern II
Endowed Support Fund to honor the memory of his parents.
The School of Law Faculty Support Fund
An anonymous gift was received to establish the School of Law Faculty Support Fund. The fund will be used to provide discretionary support for faculty expenses.
ALABAMA LAW CLASS CHAIRS
In 2023, Dean Brewbaker introduced a new class chair program housed within the Alabama Law Alumni Society. Through this program, class chairs facilitate communications between the Law School and their class, connect with class members to keep them updated and apprised of what each other is doing, and help increase participation in the Alabama Law Alumni Society’s annual giving program.
The Alabama Law Class Chair Program has been a major success because of the following alumni:
Class of 1960
Broox G. Holmes
Class of 1963
William P. Jackson, Jr.
Class of 1966
Robert L. McCurley, Jr.
Class of 1968
C. Delaine Mountain, Sr.
Class of 1969
Hon. Wade Drinkard
James R. Seale
Class of 1971
James R. Shaw
Class of 1972
S. Dagnal Rowe
Class of 1973
D. Leon Ashford
Class of 1975
Mac B. Greaves, Sr.
Class of 1976
Eleanor I. Brooks
Class of 1978
James H. Richardson
Class of 1979
Kathy Collier
Robert V. Wooldridge III
Class of 1980
Paul S. Davison
H. Harold Stephens
Michael S. Stutts
Class of 1982
Laura L. Crum
E. Dale Nellums
Katherine L. Russell
Class of 1983
M. Stanford Blanton
Class of 1984
Hon. Claude E. Hundley
Class of 1985
Martin E. Roberts, Jr.
Class of 1986
Larry G. Canada
Class of 1988
J. Alan Bannister
Thomas F. Campbell
Lisa T. O’Hara
Class of 1989
L. Susan Doss
Class of 1990
James P. Pewitt
Class of 1991
Frances King Quick
Class of 1992
Paula L. Whitley
Class of 1994
Kimberly B. Martin
Allison O. Skinner
Class of 1996
Elizabeth Parrott
Mary Margaret Relfe
Class of 1997
Joseph E. Powell
Class of 1998
Hon. Clinton H. Hyde
Class of 1999
Perry G. Jackson
Class of 2001
Hampton Baxley
Sean C. Pierce
Class of 2002
J. Pratt Austin-Trucks
Class of 2003
Michelle L. Crunk
Class of 2004
Hon. William S. Poole III
Class of 2005
Jennifer H. Clark
David F. Lasseter
Class of 2006
Tonja B. Carter
Class of 2007
Abbey H. Clarkson
Sara Beth Janson
Hon. Kandice E. Pickett
Class of 2008
David B. Welborn
Class of 2009
Scott L. Tindle
Class of 2010
David Holt
Class of 2011
William A. Lattimore II
Class of 2012
Danielle Blevins
Mary Wu Tullis
Class of 2014
Felicia T. Long
Class of 2015
Nathan R. Cordle
Class of 2016
Eleanor A. Friedman
Shalyn S. Watkins
Class of 2017
Kelsie Mattox Speight
Class of 2018
Robert E. Pendley
Class of 2019
Cpt. Steven J. Arango
Finley B. Reeves
Ashton Standeffer Taylor
Class of 2020
Jeffery G. Rogers
M. Wesley Smithart
Class of 2021
Caitlin E. Cobb
Robert L. Humphrey III
Class of 2022
Benjamin J. Barrow
Dakota C. Slaughter
Class of 2023
Blaize M. Naman
Kyra Perkins
GIFTS TO THE ALABAMA LAW ALUMNI SOCIETY
GIFTS RECEIVED JULY 1, 2023-JUNE 30, 2024. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE INCREASED FINANCIAL SUPPORT WE’VE RECEIVED FROM OUR ALUMNI COMMUNITY THIS PAST YEAR. FOR THOSE WHO GAVE AFTER JULY 1, 2024, PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOUR NAME IN THE NEXT EDITION OF THE CAPSTONE LAWYER.
GIVING LEVELS
Farrah Fellow ($5,000 +)
Dean’s Counselor ($1,000 – $4,999)
Dean’s Partner ($500 – $999)
Class of 1956
Dean’s Counselor
Hon. Oliver P. Head
Class of 1957
Farrah Fellow
Robert E. Parsons
Class of 1959
Dean’s Partner
J. Fred Powell
Class of 1960
Dean’s Counselor
Broox G. Holmes
Class of 1962
Associate J. Frederic Ingram, Sr.
Class of 1964
Dean’s Associate
Harwell E. Coale, Jr.
Byrd R. Latham
Class of 1965
Dean’s Associate
Reginald T. Hamner
Class of 1966
Dean’s Associate
Robert L. McCurley, Jr.
Class of 1967
Dean’s Partner
Ronald H. Strawbridge, Sr.
Dean’s Associate
Brittin T. Coleman
Class of 1968
Other Gifts
Donald N. Guthrie
Class of 1969
Dean’s Counselor
Fournier J. Gale III
Dean’s Partner
William B. Long
Dean’s Associate ($250 – $499)
Associate ($150 – $249)
Junior Associate* ($50)
Associate
Roy E. Long
Class of 1970
Dean’s Counselor
Hon. Joseph A. Colquitt
Dean’s Partner
Linda S. James
Class of 1971
Other Gifts
Cleveland Thornton
Class of 1972 Associate
Thomas C. Sullivan
Class of 1973
Dean’s Counselor
Joe D. Edge
Curtis O. Liles III
Charles L. Newton II
Dean’s Partner
Jack P. Stephenson, Jr.
Dean’s Associate
Hugh W. Underwood III
Laurence D. Vinson, Jr. Associate
Gilbert E. Johnston, Jr.
Class of 1974
Dean’s Counselor
Robert F. Prince
Dean’s Associate
J. Sydney Cook III
Vader A. Pennington
Hon. C. Michael Stilson
Bert P. Taylor
Associate
Travis M. Bedsole, Jr.
Lt. Col. John H. Camp, Jr.
Hon. John H. England, Jr.
Class of 1975
Dean’s Counselor
Judy W. Evans
Wilmer Parker III
* First three years after graduation Note: The Alumni Society has made changes to the giving levels, which went into effect August 1, 2024. See the new levels on the giving envelope found between pages 32 and 33.
Dean’s Partner
Francis M. James
Victor H. Lott, Jr.
Dean’s Associate
Andrew J. Noble III
Associate
William S. Shulman
Class of 1976
Dean’s Counselor
David R. Boyd
Other Gifts
Paul H. Blackwell, Jr.
Class of 1977
Dean’s Counselor
Hon. Elizabeth T. Campbell
Julia Smeds Roth
Dean’s Associate
Robert E. Cooper
Juanita Sales Lee
Associate
Jeffery H. Long
Hon. Schuyler H. Richardson III
Other Gifts
Rosland T. Hurley
Class of 1978
Dean’s Counselor
Andrew Phillip Campbell
Ann S. Crosby
Samuel N. Crosby
Hon. Steven Ellis Haddock
Dean’s Partner
Dean Mark Brandon
James H. Richardson
Dean’s Associate
Frank S. James III
Class of 1979
Dean’s Counselor
H. Thomas Heflin, Jr.
Susan Blair Molen
Dean’s Partner
Norman Jetmundsen, Jr.
Dean’s Associate
Hon. Harold V. Hughston, Jr.
Woody Sanderson
Dale B. Stone
Robert V. Wooldridge III
Associate
James Bentley Owens III
Class of 1980
Farrah Fellow
Dr. Jonathan J. Davies
Dean’s Counselor
Dena D. Prince
Nicholas B. Roth
Michael S. Stutts
Dean’s Partner
William R. Lane, Jr.
Associate
Bruce P. Ely
Class of 1981
Dean’s Counselor
Helene Warner Hibbard
Dean’s Associate
Evelyn V. Mauldin
Carol G. Moore
Associate
Jack W. Selden
Other Gifts
John D. Humber
Class of 1982
Dean’s Counselor
Laura L. Crum
Dean’s Partner
Mark S. Boardman
Dean’s Associate
Hon. Henry D. Binford
George G. Garikes
E. Dale Nellums
Associate
W. Harold Albritton IV
Class of 1983
Farrah Fellow
Hon. Truman M. Hobbs, Jr.
Associate
Franklin L. Coley, Jr.
Other Gifts
David R. Peeler
Class of 1984
Dean’s Counselor
Theodore A. Mills
Dean’s Partner
Charlotte A. Nicholas
Steven L. Nicholas
Halron W. Turner Associate
William G. Hooks, Jr.
David Key Taylor
Other Gifts
Marian P. Mancini
Class of 1985
Farrah Fellow
Billy G. Hall
Harlan A. Page III
Dean’s Counselor
Gail L. Mills
Dean’s Partner
Van W. Lane
Associate
David G. Hymer
Charles J. Mataya
Other Gifts
Janice H. Parker
Class of 1986
Dean’s Counselor
O. Kevin Vincent
Dean’s Partner
Cynthia M. Canada
Larry G. Canada
Class of 1987
Dean’s Partner
Michael W. Risley
Dean’s Associate
Keith Covington
Stewart M. Cox
Associate
Kendrick E. Webb
Class of 1988
Dean’s Partner
Robin G. Laurie
Dean’s Associate
Thomas F. Campbell
Lisa T. O’Hara
Associate
C. Richard Wilkins
Other Gifts
Linda C. Harris
Yvonne A. Saxon
Class of 1989
Dean’s Counselor
L. Susan Doss
Dean’s Partner
William R. Barnett
Robert M. Yarbro
Dean’s Associate
Jeanne D. Rizzardi
Other Gifts
Belinda A. Barnett
Class of 1990
Dean’s Counselor
Hon. D. Greg Geary
Dean’s Associate
Elizabeth D. McGiffert
Hon. Donald N. Rizzardi
Associate
K. Wood Herren
Other Gifts
Jasper Knight Champion III
Class of 1991
Dean’s Counselor
John C. Bell
Dean’s Partner
Frances King Quick
George A. Smith
Dean’s Associate
Derrick W. Lefler
Class of 1992
Dean’s Associate
Bennie D. Butler, Jr.
Associate
Michael K. Perry
Other Gifts
Timothy O. Coyle
Class of 1993
Dean’s Counselor
Bryan C. Adams
Heather C. Brock
Richard G. Brock
James R. Holland II
Dean’s Associate
Gregory M. Taube
Associate
Chris N. Glenos
Gary Lane Howard
Class of 1994
Associate
Kimberly B. Martin
Laura Schiele Robinson
Other Gifts
Yun-Sung Chuang
Class of 1995
Dean’s Associate
Kyle T. Smith
Associate
Kimberly K. Boone
Richard J.R. Raleigh, Jr.
Class of 1996
Dean’s Counselor
Sherrie L. Phillips
Steven M. Wyatt
Dean’s Partner
Emily R. Gnam
Dean’s Associate
L. Peyton Chapman III
Associate
Frederic L. Smith, Jr.
Class of 1997
Dean’s Counselor
Joseph Reese, Jr.
Dean’s Partner
Charles A. Ray IV
Caroline J. Strawbridge
Dean’s Associate
Olufemi A. Obikoya
Other Gifts
Michelle K. Pieroni
Class of 1998
Dean’s Counselor
Anna M. Grizzle
Dean’s Partner
Matthew T. Franklin
Eric L. Pruitt
Associate
Frederick Wendell Allen
Stephen Hamilton Hall
Kimberly H. Memmesheimer
Jamie Lee Moore
George Robert Parker
Other Gifts
Eric J. Artrip
Brandy A. Boone
Jess S. Boone
Class of 1999
Dean’s Associate
Ingrid B. Lunsford
Class of 2000
Dean’s Associate
Johnathan L. Butler
Christopher R. Kelley
William R. Lunsford
Dean’s Counselor
Spencer A. Bomar
Ronald H. Strawbridge, Jr.
Dean’s Associate
Patricia C. Wallwork
Gregory M. Zarzaur
Associate
David Wayne Owen
Other Gifts
Katherine M. McGinley
Robert B. McGinley, Jr.
Class of 2001
Dean’s Counselor
David R. Yates
Dean’s Associate
S. Daniel Kaufmann
P. Keith Lichtman
Johnathan E. Raulston
Associate
William D. Blackmon
David A. Felice
Ross Frazer
Judd Aaron Harwood
Other Gifts
Kacey L. Keeton
Class of 2002
Dean’s Associate
Gregory A. Brockwell
Cynthia Raulston
Associate
Angela Holt
Other Gifts
Hunter Webb
Class of 2003
Dean’s Counselor
Derrick A. Mills
Associate
Edward S. Sledge IV
Other Gifts
John Kirkman Garrett
Class of 2004
Dean’s Counselor
Jini Koh
Associate
Hallman Blair Eady
Daniel P. Ogle
Other Gifts
John R. Morgan
Class of 2005
Dean’s Counselor
Jon N. Loupe
Dean’s Partner
Alexia B. Borden
Hon. Gray M. Borden
Jennifer F. Cote
David F. Lasseter
Dean’s Associate
Kevin B. McKie
Melissa B. McKie
Glory R. McLaughlin
Associate
Evan P. Baggett
Class of 2006
Dean’s Partner
Rochelle A. Conley
Dean’s Associate
Jeff A. Wells
Jennifer B. Wells
Associate
C. Jason Avery
Matthew B. LeDuke
James E. Long, Jr.
Other Gifts
Brad A. Green
J. Bradford Hicks
Class of 2007
Dean’s Counselor
Jeffery T. Powell
Other Gifts
Joshua S. Thompson
Class of 2008
Dean’s Counselor
Andrew Patrick Campbell
Dean’s Associate
Henry S. Long III
David B. Welborn
Associate
T. Parker Griffin, Jr.
Kimberly K. Rucker
Class of 2009
Associate
Lindsey C. Boney IV
Russell Kane Burnette
Adam K. Israel
Ryan P. Robichaux
Class of 2010
Dean’s Associate
Tempe D. Smith
Associate
Jonathan Corley Hill
Other Gifts
Mary Lane Faulkner
Robert J. Metty
Class of 2011
Dean’s Associate
Joshua M. Wehunt
Associate
J. Riley Key
Other Gifts
Adam W. Pittman
Class of 2012
Dean’s Associate
Christopher D. Odom
Megan H. Walsh
Other Gifts
Kevin Brian Cronin
Martha M. Griffith
Class of 2013
Associate
Gregory B. Pipes
James H. Tarbox
Other Gifts
Kyle L. Mathis
Class of 2014
Dean’s Associate
Christopher B. Driver
Associate
J. Mark Adams, Jr.
Courtney D. Gipson
Jake M. Gipson
Carolyne J. Hess
Emily M. Ruzic
Class of 2015
Dean’s Associate
John Jascob
Associate
Stanley Blackmon
Class of 2016
Associate
Daniel S. Culpepper
T. Brooks Proctor
Other Gifts
Anton P. Montano
Dixie Quinn-Nelson
James A. Walters
Class of 2017
Associate
Kelsie M. Speight
Other Gifts
William M. Logan IV
Debra L. Logan
Hon. Scott E. Stevens
Class of 2018
Dean’s Partner
Haley M. Todd
Other Gifts
Hunter Pearce
Class of 2019
Dean’s Partner
Andrew L. Todd
Other Gifts
Cortlin Bond
Collin M. Keller
Joseph R. Latham
Justin H. Nolen
Finley B. Reeves
Class of 2020
Associate
Mazie Bryant
Junior Associate
M. Welsey Smithart
Mary Katherine White
Other Gifts
Catherine Tabor
Class of 2021
Junior Associate
Chenelle M. Smith
Gabrielle A. Sprio
Lisa M. Waggoner
Class of 2022
Dean’s Associate
Kayleigh A. Furr
Junior Associate
Halle Diaz
Mason A. Kruse
Class of 2023
Associate
Halisha White
Robert Williams
Junior Associate
Rachel Sims
Faculty, Staff, and Friends
Farrah Fellow
Dean William S. Brewbaker III
Dean’s Partner
David L. Glasgow
Timothy Hoff
M. Chad Tindol
Dean’s Counselor
Bryant Bank
Dean’s Associate
Jason C. Wear
Associate
Gailon S. Holden
John F. Noble
Other Gifts
Amber L. Brackett
Nancy S. Carr
Sonia G. Cummins
James E. Curtis, Jr.
Jack Eason
Brandy Jensen
Jason M. Kirschberg
Leon O’Neal
Dr. Paul M. Pruitt, Jr.
Jennifer W. Pyle
Candice Reed Robbins
Marilia Rosa De Oliveira Lara
Frank Stolba
Robin A. Wade III
Lillian Ruth Weeks
Jackie Wuska
GIFTS TO THE ALABAMA CHAPTER OF ORDER OF THE COIF
Gifts received July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
Lt. Col. Bryan C. Adams
Shawn T. Alves
Noel G. Amason
J. Knox Argo
P. Scott Arnston
Grover E. Asmus II
Catherine McCord Bailey
Joyce K. Baker
Belinda Anne Barnett
Jennifer Buettner Bates
Jere L. Beasley
George Lamar Beck, Jr.
Brian F. Blackwell
James A. Bradford
John T. Bryan, Jr.
Brannon J. Buck
Glenda G. Bugg
Russell Kane Burnette
Frank M. Caprio
Joseph T. Carpenter
Allan J. Chappelle
Edward R. Christian
Evelyn Hagerty Coats
Hon. Randall L. Cole
Brittin T. Coleman
Kathleen A. Collier
William R. Corbett
Steven Christopher Corhern
F. Keith Covington
Roy J. Crawford
Mark A. Crosswhite
Donna M. Crowe
Margaret H. Dabbs
Christopher D. Danley
Hon. George C. Day, Jr.
Woodford W. Dinning, Jr.
Richard T. Dorman
Shirley Crawford Dorrough
L. Susan Doss
Frank C. Ellis, Jr.
Clausen Ely, Jr.
Hon. John E. Enslen
Rebecca Crawford Eubanks
Gary W. Fillingim
Samuel H. Franklin
Sherri Tucker Freeman
Harry W. Gamble, Jr.
James W. Gewin
Wesley Bowen Gilchrist
Carl L. Gorday
Duane A. Graham
John Mark Graham
William Stanley Gregory
Christopher B. Harmon
Benjamin H. Harris III
Hon. R. Bernard Harwood, Jr.
Robert A. Hawkins
Carleta R. Hawley
J. Marland Hayes
Mary Ena J. Heath
David H. Humber
David G. Hymer
Raymond L. Jackson, Jr.
Norman Jetmundsen, Jr.
D. Kyle Johnson
Gilbert E. Johnston, Jr.
Hon. Hardie B. Kimbrough
Leah P. Ladd
Robin G. Laurie
William L. Lee III
Curtis O. Liles III
John W. Lilley III
David P. Martin
Stephen W. Mazza
Robert L. McCurley, Jr.
Paul Messner
David J. Middlebrooks
James H. Miller III
Shannon Miller
Michael R. Mills
Col. Richard D. Mink
Dwight L. Mixon, Jr.
Hon. Samuel H. Monk II
E. Britton Monroe
Marie A. Moore
Henry T. Morrissette
Hon. Claud D. Neilson
Edward Asbury O’Neal VI
M. Beth O’Neill
John A. Owens
Janice H. Parker
Virginia C. Patterson
James A. Patton, Jr.
H. Gregory Pearson
David R. Peeler
Gary A. Phillips
Thomas Forrest Phillips
James M. Pool
LeeAnn M. Pounds
Jerry W. Powell
Emily Kornegay Price
Dena D. Prince
Hon. T. Michael Putnam
Randall D. Quarles
Frances King Quick
Samuel T. Reaves
Morris W. Richardson
W. Stanley Rodgers
J. Trent Scofield
Robert D. Segall
Hon. Philip Dale Segrest
Lesley Cruickshank Shamblin
Henry F. Sherrod III
Col. Albert F. Simpson, Jr.
Larry U. Sims
David C. Skinner
T. Dwight Sloan
John W. Smith T
William A. Smith
Tyler N. Smoot
Jack P. Stephenson, Jr.
Norman M. Stockman
Anne Stone Sumblin
J. Michael Taylor
Hon. H. Randall Thomas
Braxton Scott Thrash
Richard N. Tishler
Andrew Lawrence Todd
Laurence D. Vinson, Jr.
Cary Tynes Wahlheim
Lauren Gessner Walker
Robert C. Walthall
Elizabeth Smith Webb
H. Thomas Wells, Jr.
Jennifer Butler Wells
Misha Mullins Whitman
Catherine Lee Wilson
Paul O. Woodall
Paul O. Woodall, Jr.
Robert V. Wooldridge III
Kenneth T. Wyatt
Laura L. Youngpeter
Hon. Michael A. Youngpeter
GIFTS TO THE LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION
Gifts received July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024. We are grateful for the increased financial support we've received from the following individuals and corporations to support the Law School's programs and scholarships this past year. For those who gave after July 1, 2024, please keep an eye out for you name in the next edition of the Capstone Lawyer.
ALABAMA ANNUAL TAX CLINIC SCHOLARSHIP
The University of Alabama Federal Tax Clinic
ALABAMA LAW SUMMER SCHOLARS PROGRAM FUND
Alabama Civil Justice Foundation
Robert C. Brock
Tamara Brock
Penny A. Davis
Derrick A. Mills
Tamesha H. Mills
ALBRITTON FUND
Hon. William H. Albritton III
DOUGLAS ARANT PROFESSOR OF LAW
Scott E. Adams
Stanley E. Blackmon
Russell K. Burnette
Frank M. Caprio
L. Susan Doss
Bruce P. Ely
Courtney D. Gipson
Jake M. Gipson
Chris Glenos
William S. Gregory
Judd A. Harwood
Jonathan C. Hill
Matthew A. Hinshaw
Jimmy Long
Jamie L. Moore
Andrew J. Noble III
Stephen A. Opler
George R. Parker
Virginia Patterson
Thomas A. Roberts, Jr.
Ryan P. Robichaux
Anne M. Seibel
Jack W. Selden
H. Harold Stephens
Laurence D. Vinson
James W. Wright, Jr.
WALKER PERCY BADHAM III SCHOLARSHIP
Hon. John H. Alsbrooks, Jr.
American International Group, Inc.
Clyde B. Anderson
Summerlin C. Anderson
Billy Angell
Jane P. Angell
Badham & Buck, LLC
Tasha B. Bates
Walter W. Bates
Sally H. Beam
Cary G. Beck, Jr.
Janet L. Beck
Peter Bennett
Cherry A. Billings
Katharine H. Blanton
M. Stanford Blanton
Caroline S. Bolvig
R. Michael Booker
Renee W. Booker
Frances P. Bryan
Brannon J. Buck
Joseph L. Bynum
Donna W. Christie
James S. Christie, Jr.
Arthur P. Cook, Jr.
Deane P. Cook
Robert E. Cooper
Charles S. Crowther III
Crum Family Charitable Foundation
Laura L. Crum
Emily M. Curran
Gregory S. Curran
Cynthia S. Daily
Ronald R. Davis
Charles W. Debardeleben
Lee Ann DeCarlo
Michael S. DeCarlo
Dent Moses, LLP
L. Susan Doss
Robert D. Eckinger
Carolyn B. Featheringill
Dr. John C. Foster
Marlea K. Foster
Joan L. Gambril
Troy A. Gambril
George A. Garikes
Debra H. Goldstein
Joel R. Goldstein
Allison M. Gorrie
Frances Gorrie
M. James Gorrie II
M. Miller Gorrie
Celeste C. Grenier
Ann D. Haas
Victor H. Hanson III
Andrea P. Hawkins
David S. Hawkins
J. Keith Hazelrig
Margaret W. Head
Robert H. Head
Edward H. Hobbs
S. Elizabeth Hobbs
Brett Andrews Ialacci
Louis Ialacci
Michelle Ialacci
Leigh L. Jones
Cheryl A. Kaufman
LaVonda B. Keel
Perry H. Keel
Burgin H. Kent
Brenda K. Knapp
Sam David Knight
Joseph B. LaRussa
Angela S. Letzer
Joseph W. Letzer
Curtis O. Liles III
Amy Littleton
Dr. Michael B. Littleton
Frank B. Lockridge
Betty T. McMahon
John J. McMahon, Jr.
Sara A. Moody
Dr. Thomas E. Moody
Morris, Haynes, Wheeles, Knowles & Hornsby, LLP
Larry W. Morris
Sandy Naramore
E. Dale Nellums
Jean K. Oliver
John T. Oliver III
G. Ruffner Page, Jr.
Virginia W. Page
Parkinson Association of Alabama Inc.
Susan F. Peddy
Carroll C. Phelps
Scott M. Phelps
Virginia M. Phillips
William M. Phillips, Jr.
Maibeth J. Porter
Cindy Poundstone
Carolyn W. Powell
Jerry W. Powell, Jr.
Ann B. Prater
Harlan I. Prater IV
James L. Priester
Murray T. Priester
Prince, Glover & Hayes, P.C.
John D. Quinlivan, Jr.
Paige F. Quinlivan
Diane M. Richardson
James L. Richardson
Laura Russell
Scott R. Russell
Catherine C. Smith
Dr. J. Roger Smith
Joseph Smith
James A. Sydnor, Jr.
Marda W. Sydnor
Gray T. Thuston
Jack D. Tribble
Kathleen S. Tribble
Cary T. Wahlheim
William B. Wahlheim, Jr.
Beth C. Walston
Jeannette Watford
Dr. W. Hansford Watford, Jr.
Stephen E. Whitehead
Elizabeth B. Williams
James S. Williams
Meaghan R. Williams
Turner B. Williams
FRANK MIMS BAINBRIDGE ENDOWED MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Estate of Frank M. Bainbridge
BALCH & BINGHAM ROUNDTABLE IN LAW AND BUSINESS ENDOWED FUND
Thomas G. Amason III
M. Stanford Blanton
James A. Byram, Jr.
Thomas G. DeLawrence
Philip S. Gidiere III
E. Grace Hembree
Janice J. Hughey
Robert Lawrence Humphrey
Adam K. Israel
Robin G. Laurie
Emily Katherine McKee
Mary Forman Samuels
Timothy J. Segers
John C. Tate
Martha L. Thompson
Christopher L. Yeilding
J. RUFUS BEALLE LAW LIBRARY ENDOWED FUND
C. Richard Moore, Jr.
Sally Bealle Moore
JERE BEASLEY PROFESSORSHIP
Jere Locke Beasley, Sr.
JUDGE TRAVIS JESSE BEDSOLE ENDOWED MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Travis M. Bedsole, Jr.
CHARLOTTE POOL BENNETT MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Jean M. Pool
Dr. Joseph D. Pool
WILLIAM VERBON BLACK SCHOLARSHIP
Alabama Law Foundation, Inc.
CATHRYN AND MARK BOARDMAN ENDOWED SUPPORT FUND
Cathryn D. Boardman
Mark S. Boardman
JUDGE J. EDGAR BOWRON ENDOWED LAW SCHOLARSHIP
Cynthia N. Bowron
Thomas W. Bowron II
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP
DEAN MARK E. BRANDON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Dean Mark. E. Brandon
DEAN MARK E. BRANDON ENDOWED SUPPORT FUND IN CONSTITUTIONAL STUDIES
Jenna Bedsole
Hon. Sonja F. Bivins
Katherine Rogers Brown
Frank S. James
Jini H. Koh
Vader A. Pennington
Jerry W. Powell
Frances King Quick
Candice R. Robbins
Clif Slaten
Caroline J. Strawbridge
H. Thomas Wells, Jr.
CLASS COMPOSITE PRESERVATION PROJECT FUND
David J. Hodge
Laura Drinkard Hodge
CLASS OF 1979 IN MEMORIAM ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
James A. Byram, Jr.
Hon. Bradley E. Byrne, Sr.
Kathleen A. Collier
Coy M. Collinsworth
Charles W. Fleming, Jr.
Frank H. Hawthorne, Jr.
H. Thomas Heflin, Jr.
Gregory D. Hyde
Norman Jetmundsen, Jr.
Elizabeth B. Joiner
Dixie F. Keller
Sidney G. Landreau
Daniel C. Lemley
Harry P. Long, Sr.
Robert B. Miller
Susan B. Molen
Thomas A. Nettles IV
James B. Noel, Jr.
Gerald R. Paulk
Scott M. Phelps
Dwight W. Pittenger
William S. Pritchard III
Robert P. Reynolds
Woody Sanderson
Brenda C. See
Kenneth O. Simon
Connie R. Stockham
Robert V. Wooldridge
CLASS OF 1982 ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Crum Charitable Foundation
Laura L. Crum
E. Dale Nellums
CLASS OF 1989 MEMORIAL FUND
Belinda A. Barnett
Richard R. Whidden, Jr.
HARWELL E. COALE, JR. ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Harwell E. Coale, Jr.
CAMILLE WRIGHT COOK ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
James M. Long
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES J. COOPER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Charles J. Cooper
Debra J. Cooper
GEORGE P. CREWS, JR. SCHOLARSHIP FUND
George P. Crews, Jr.
MARK AND JANE EMILY CROSSWHITE ENDOWED LAW SCHOLARSHIP
Alabama Power Foundation, Inc.
CRUM FAMILY ENDOWED LECTURE FOR LAW & BUSINESS
Crum Family Charitable Foundation
Laura L. Crum
GREGORY S. CUSIMANO SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Dr. Alice N. Cusimano
Gregory S. Cusimano
FRANK J. DAILY ENDOWED PUBLIC INTEREST SUPPORT FUND
Frank J. Daily
Julianna Ebert
LEIGH DAVIS FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Alabama Power Foundation, Inc.
J. Leigh Davis
DOMINIC DESIMONE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Chevron
Brig. Gen. James W. Hart
FREDERICK DOUGLASS MOOT COURT COMPETITION SUPPORT FUND
Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
JUSTICE T. ERIC EMBRY ENDOWED LAW SCHOLARSHIP
Cynthia N. Bowron
Thomas W. Bowron II
JAMES TIMOTHY FRANCIS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Schwab Charitable for J. Timothy Francis
MICHAEL DAVID FREEMAN & SHERRI TUCKER FREEMAN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Sherri T. Freeman
RALPH D. GAINES, JR. SCHOLARSHIP
Cathy J. Hurst
Leslie D. Hurst
Priscilla G. McMillan
FOURNIER J. “BOOTS” GALE III ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham for Fournier J. Gale III
Athens Area Community Foundation for Dean Nathaniel Hansford
ROBERT W. HODGKINS ENDOWED CHAIR IN LAW
The Estate of Robert and Joanne Hodgkins
MIKE AND GINA HOUSE DC EXTERNSHIP STUDENT SUPPORT FUND
Belinda A. Barnett
Stephen E. Boyd
John Cox
Candice R. Robbins
J. Michael Taylor
O. Kevin Vincent
Megan Walsh
M. LEE HUFFAKER MEMORIAL ENDOWED SUPPORT FUND
Katherine N. Huffaker
Hon. R. Austin Huffaker, Jr.
Suzanne L. Huffaker
Tamara Jenkins Quick Schwab Charitable Fund
JAMES F. HUGHEY, JR. ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Andrew Philip Campbell
Hon. Elizabeth Todd Campbell
T. Michael Goodrich
Jerry W. Powell
JOHN EVANS JACKSON SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Barbara Seignious Jackson
William P. Jackson, Jr.
JOHN HOLLIS JACKSON, JR. & REBECCA M. JACKSON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
John H. Jackson, Jr.
Rebecca M. Jackson
WILLIAM P. JACKSON, JR. & BARBARA SEIGNIOUS JACKSON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Barbara Seignious Jackson
William P. Jackson, Jr.
JUDGE FRANK M. JOHNSON, JR. MEMORIAL ENDOWED LECTURE ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS & LIBERTIES
Eric J. Artrip
Mary Ellen Fullerton
Ron J. Krotoszynski, Jr.
David Moody
Robert L. Vogel
JUDGE FRANK M. JOHNSON, JR. & RUTH JENKINS JOHNSON MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Robert L. Vogel
THOMAS L. JONES ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Frances F. Hansford
Dean Nathaniel Hansford
John D. Humber
Annie O. Trost
Charles A. Trost
JUDGE HARDIE B. KIMBROUGH
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Hon. Hardie B. Kimbrough, Sr.
LANIER DEAN’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Richard Delgado
John A. Smyth
Leigh Ann Smyth
Jean A. Stefancic
LAW SCHOOL BUILDING FUND
American International Group, Inc.
Hon. Henry D. Binford
Larry Canada
Sonia G. Cummins
Brad A. Green
E. Dale Nellums
Sherrie Lynn Phillips
Lillian Ruth Weeks
LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Dr. Hugh M. Reeves
Martha W. Reeves
LAW SCHOOL UNRESTRICTED FUND
American International Group, Inc.
Stewart G. Austin, Jr.
Donald H. Bevill
Bennie D. Butler, Jr.
Thomas H. Christopher
Brian L. Church
Lee H. Copeland
Hon. John H. England III
Ernst & Young Foundation
David B. Foutch
George C. Garikes
Fulton S. Hamilton
Ben H. Harris, Jr.
Julie A. Hill
William G. Hooks, Jr.
William B. Hurley
Benjamin N. Kearns
Dr. Lee G. Knight
Raymond A. Knight
Jini H. Koh
William C. Lanham
Douglas E. Mains
Michel Marcoux
Terrence W. McCarthy
Ruth McCoy
Kevin B. McKie
Melissa B. McKie
Dr. Larry R. McKinney
Noah H. Mery
Joy J. Minner
John R. Morgan III
E. Dale Nellums
Felicia J. Nickerson
David R. Peeler
Vader A. Pennington
Sherrie L. Phillips
Sarah Y. Prehmus
Lindsey M. Shepard
Bruce W. Slayden II
Gary Sullivan
William B. Tatum
Mary S. Turner
John P. Tyrrell, Jr.
Megan H. Walsh
LAW WEEK AWARDS
Alabama State Bar
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Attorneys Information Exchange Group, Inc.
Balch & Bingham LLP
Chicago Title Insurance Co.
Anna C. Gualano
Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton
Lightfoot, Franklin and White, LLC
Maynard Nexsen
Stone Crosby, PC
Women’s Lawyers Section of The Birmingham Bar Association
CURTIS O. LILES III ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN TAX LAW
Curtis O. Liles III
James Pool
Rev. Jayne Pool
MANLEY SERVICEMEN AND VETERANS PROGRAM ENDOWED SUPPORT FUND
Alyce Manley Spruell
M. DALE MARSH ENDOWED LAW SCHOLARSHIP
Joan Marsh
M. Dale Marsh
MARTIN FAMILY ENDOWED LAW SCHOLARSHIP
Kimberly B. Martin
M. Clay Martin
BEN MAY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Ben May Charitable Trust
MARGARET A. AND FRANCIS E. MCGOVERN II MEMORIAL ENDOWED SUPPORT FUND
Henry McGovern
WILLIAM D. MELTON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Hon. Sue Bell Cobb
Carolyn W. Powell
Jerry W. Powell
PATH MAKERS LEGACY PLAZA
Alabama Power Foundation, Inc.
Bill Brewbaker and Becky Brewbaker
J.R. Brooks
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP
Burr & Forman
Hon. Sue Bell Cobb and William Cobb
Ann S. Crosby and Samuel N. Crosby
Hon. Samarria and Kendall Dunson
Hon. Vivian D. Figures
Fournier "Boots" Gale III
Elizabeth H. Huntley
Frank S. James III and Jothany James
Jini H. Koh
Wesley L. Laird
Vanessa Leonard
Marcus M. and Kwoya N. Maples
John J. McMahon Jr. and Betty T. McMahon
Robert D. Segall
Lightfoot, Franklin & White
Stephen W. Williams
The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
JERRY & SUZANNE PERKINS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Jerry F. Perkins
Suzanne S. Perkins
Vulcan Materials Company Foundation
JERRY W. POWELL & CAROLYN W. POWELL PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE FOR LAW & BUSINESS
Carolyn W. Powell
Jerry W. Powell
ROBERT FRANKLIN PRINCE ENDOWED LAW SCHOLARSHIP
Alabama Civil Justice Foundation
Leigh M. Allen
William C. Allen III
Ree H. Almon
Robert N. Almon, Jr
The Honorable Cynthia L. Almond
Alpha Chi Omega
Jere L. Beasley, Sr.
Hon. Sue Bell Cobb
Beulah B. Cooper
Bobby W. Cowart
Rhonda W. Cowart
Greg Foster
Karen J. Glover
John H. Hagood
Kendall A. Hagood
Hon. Madelene L. Hollingsworth
Jewel P. Howard
Gina Johnson
James C. Johnson III
Paul A. Johnson
Michael L. Jordan
Shelley D. Jordan
Nancy Krenkel
Lewis, Feldman, Lehane and Snable, LLC
Kent M. McCain
Michael C. McCray
Richard M. Nolen
Ann B. Prater
Harlan I. Prater
Leslie A. Robinson
Dr. Robert D. Robinson
Jill A. Satcher
Michael D. Smith
Roslyn G. Smith
Kenneth P. Strickland
Rebecca H. Strickland
Terri O. Tompkins
Warrior Investment Group, LLC
Watson McKinney
Rachel L. Webber
Susan J. Windham
E. Franklin Woodson, Jr.
Marti G. Woodson
PROGRAM IN CONSTITUTIONAL STUDIES SUPPORT FUND
Hon. Ali B. Paksoy, Jr.
PROGRAM FOR LAW & BUSINESS SUPPORT FUND
Stephen D. Kane
PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FELLOWSHIPS
Gene M. Hamby
Henry G. and Henry U. Sims Foundation
Megan H. Walsh
PATRICK W. RICHARDSON MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
James H. Richardson
Nancy M. Richardson
Hon. Schuyler H. Richardson III
GORDON ROSEN ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP OF LAW
Estate of Gordon and Ann Rosen
JULIA SMEDS ROTH ENDOWED LAW SCHOLARSHIP
Julia Smeds Roth
JUDGE IRENE FEAGIN SCOTT TAX LIBRARY COLLECTION FUND
Thomas J. Scott
IRVING SILVER AND FRANCES GRODSKY SILVER FACULTY SCHOLAR ENDOWMENT FUND
Frances Silver
Irving Silver
SILVER ANNUAL FACULTY SCHOLAR GIFT FUND
Frances Silver
Irving Silver
DR. NORMAN J. SINGER ENDOWED PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FUND
Joanna G. Jacobs
Anna J. Singer
STUDENT SUPPORT INITIATIVES
Claude R. Arrington
Hon. Sonja F. Bivins
Rochelle A. Conley
Hon. John H. England, Jr.
Bryan K. Fair
Rosland T. Hurley
Jini Koh
Grace Lee
LaRonica K. Lightfoot
Justin Nolen
Tempe D. Smith
M. Wesley Smithart
Neena R. Speer
JON SUNDOCK ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LAW and HEALTH LAW MOOT COURT TEAM SUPPORT
American Endowment Foundation for Jon M. Sundock
EDWARD P. TURNER, JR. FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Shirley W. Turner
A. BRAND WALTON, JR. ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
National Christian Foundation for Allan J. Chappelle
JUDGE ROBERT J. WHEELER SCHOLARSHIP
Paul H. Rand
M. Wayne Wheeler
WILMER & LEE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
Wilmer & Lee, P.A.
TESTAMENTARY AND DEFERRED GIFTS
Individuals listed below have designated the Law School or the Law School Foundation as a beneficiary of a testamentary or other deferred gift and have given permission to publicize their gifts. This list is current as of June 30, 2024
TRAVIS M. BEDSOLE, JR.
Travis M. Bedsole, Jr. Scholarship Fund
HON. SONJA F. BIVINS School of Law Naming Opportunities Fund
GEORGE A. BLINN* (Patricia Thuss Blinn)
RICHARD* AND ANITA BOUNDS
H.R.* AND PHYLLIS CAMPBELL
The Phyllis and H.R. Campbell Endowed Support Fund
STANLEY A. CASH
The Stanley A. Cash Endowed Law Scholarship
HARWELL E. COALE, JR.
Harwell E. Coale, Jr. Endowed Scholarship
WILLIAM D. COLEMAN
COY MARK COLLINSWORTH Scholarship Fund
JUDGE JOSEPH COLQUITT
Joseph A. Colquitt Scholarship Fund
DIXIE W. COOPER
GEORGE P. CREWS, JR.
LAURA L. CRUM
Crum Family Endowed Lecture for Law & Business
L. SUSAN DOSS
L. Susan Doss Endowed Scholarship
TOM AND JAN ELLIOTT
Thomas R. Elliott Law School Fund
GENE HAMBY
Gene M. Hamby, Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund
EDWARD L. HARDIN, JR.
Ed and Lila Hardin Scholarship Fund
PAULA W. HINTON
Paula W. Hinton ('79) and James F. Hinton ('48) Scholarship Fund
JAMES C.* AND JOAN INZER
James C. Inzer, Jr. and Joan C. Inzer Endowed Law Scholarship Fund
WILLIAM P. JACKSON, JR. AND BARBARA SEIGNIOUS JACKSON
William P. Jackson, Jr. and Barbara Seignious Jackson Endowed Scholarship Fund
RICHARD S. JAFFE
FRANK AND JOTHANY JAMES
Judge Virgil Pittman Endowed Scholarship Fund
STEPHEN DOUGLAS KANE
Unrestricted Endowment Fund
ALVA M. LAMBERT
George C. Wallace Endowment Fund
CURTIS O. LILES III
Curtis O. Liles III Endowed Professorship in Tax Law
M. DALE MARSH
M. Dale Marsh Endowed Law Scholarship
M. CLAY MARTIN AND KIMBERLY B. MARTIN
Martin Family Endowed Law Scholarship
SUSAN R. MILLER
John C.H. Miller, Jr. Scholarship
THOMAS W. MITCHELL
Thomas and Betty Mitchell Scholarship Fund
ROBERT E. PARSONS* Alabama Law Alumni Society
RICHARD AND SHANNON RALEIGH
Richard and Shannon Raleigh Endowed Scholarship
M. LOUIS SALMON* (Elisabeth Salmon Whitten) M. Louis Salmon Fund
JOHN B. SANDAGE
Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. & Mrs. Ruth Jenkins
Johnson Memorial Endowed Scholarship
JOHN A. SMYTH III AND LEIGH ANN SMYTH Lanier Dean’s Discretionary Fund
CAROLINE JACKSON STRAWBRIDGE Strawbridge – Jackson Family Endowed Scholarship
ANNE STONE SUMBLIN Law School Unrestricted Fund
MANNING G. WARREN III
Manning G. Warren Endowed Scholarship
M. WAYNE WHEELER
Judge Robert J. Wheeler Scholarship Fund
*Deceased
PLANNED GIVING OPTIONS
When it comes to making a long-term impact at the School of Law at The University of Alabama, there are many giving options to choose from: will or living trust, beneficiary designation, or a charitable gift annuity. For more information about these or other gift-planning options, please contact the Office of Planned Giving at 205-348-0999, toll-free at 888-875-4438, email at plannedgiving@advance.ua.edu, or visit www.ua.giftplans.org
SUMMARY OF LAW SCHOOL FUNDS
This summary of funds includes corpus accounts in excess of $5,000 as of June 30, 2024. Endowed funds reflect the market value and unendowed funds reflect the book value.
I.
ACADEMIC CHAIRS
ENDOWED:
Tom Bevill Chair of Law
Francis H. Hare Chair of Law
Robert W. Hodgkins Chair of Law
$2,383,493.62
$1,856,148.97
$4,750,907.64
D. Paul Jones, Jr. & Charlene $2,061,446.52
Angelich Jones Endowed Chair of Law
Frank E. Spain Chair of Law
John J. Sparkman Chair of Law
John S. Stone Chair of Law
Charles E. Tweedy, Jr. Chair of Law
II. FACULTY SUPPORT FUNDS
ENDOWED:
Douglas Arant Professorship
$1,642,917.70
$3,045,062.73
$2,550,501.53
$4,602,653.36
$187,402.25
Frank Bainbridge - Walter L.Mims $689,799.02 Professorship
Ann and Rufus Bealle Faculty
$221,916.10 Fellowship
Jere L. Beasley, Sr. Professorship $258,226.59
Edgar L. Clarkson Professorship $292,513.84
Class of 1936 Professorship $282,658.40
Marc Ray Clement Professorship $126,164.15
John D. and Janis P. Clements
$52,731.85 Research Fund
Alton C. and Cecile Cunningham $242,265.78 Craig Professorship
School of Law Faculty Support Fund $135,401.52
Silver Annual Faculty Scholar $55,792.33 Gift Fund
Lyman F. Holland, Jr. and Leannah P. $323,978.41 Holland Endowed Visiting Assistant Professorship
James M. Kidd, Sr. Professorship $516,435.27
Marcus McConnell Faculty Friends $239,823.80 and Benefactors Enhancement Fund
Thomas E. McMillan Professorship $274,375.35
Joseph D. Peeler Professorship $335,095.40
Jerry W. Powell and Carolyn W. $663,159.48 Powell Professor of Practice for Law and Business
Ira Drayton Pruitt, Sr. Professorship $255,558.94
L. Drew Redden Endowed $327,998.27 Faculty Support
