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People in the News
JUDGE BERNICE DONALD
The National Bar Association presented U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice Donald with its Lifetime Achievement Award during its annual Wiley Branton Symposium on October 14.
JUSTICE CORNELIA “CONNIE” CLARK
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia “Connie” Clark became the first active member of the judiciary to lie in state at the Tennessee State Capitol. Clark is only the second woman to lie in state, following the late Sen. Thelma Harper, who died in April. Only three Tennesseans have been provided with the honor in the past 88 years. Clark, a member of the judicial branch for more than 30 years, died Sept. 24 after a short battle with cancer.
BRIAN S. FAUGHNAN
Brian S. Faughnan, shareholder in the Memphis office of Lewis Thomason, was recently elected the President of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers. His term will run from August 2021 to August 2022. He served as Treasurer from August 2018-2019, Secretary from August 2019-2020, and President-Elect from August 2020-2021. Faughnan serves as Lewis Thomason's Associate General Counsel and works in conjunction with the firm's president in all ethics and professional responsibility matters within the firm. Faughnan’s practice is focused on commercial litigation, appellate litigation, and media law. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and Memphis Bar Association, and is a Fellow of the American Bar, Tennessee Bar, and Memphis Bar Foundations. Faughnan earned his J.D. at the University of Memphis, magna cum laude. He holds a B.A. from Rhodes College
JUDGE JULIA SMITH GIBBONS
Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, is the 39th annual Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award recipient. Nearly 40 years ago, the Devitt Award was created to honor the unsung heroes of the American judiciary. It has risen to become our nation's most esteemed recognition for members on the federal bench. In selecting Judge Gibbons for this honor, Justice Gorsuch said, "Judge Julia Gibbons is a trailblazer and role model in the legal profession. In her home state of Tennessee, she was the first woman to serve as a state trial judge and, later, the first woman to be appointed a federal judge. In addition to discharging her judicial duties, for nearly 30 years Judge Gibbons has also played a vital role in the governance and administration of the federal judiciary nationwide, chairing in turn both the United States Judicial Conference's Budget Committee and its Judicial Resources Committee." Julia Smith Gibbons grew up in the rural Tennessee town of Pulaski. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law three years later. "I am honored to receive the 2021 Devitt Award,'' said Judge Gibbons. "I am humbled that the selection committee and others believed me worthy of this recognition." She continued, "Serving with federal judicial colleagues and staff for the past 38 years, as we have conducted trials, decided cases, and done the work
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of judiciary governance, has given me great faith in the federal courts as an institution. Given this context, being the representative of the Third Branch to receive the Award this year is deeply meaningful."
CHANCELLOR JIM KYLE
On September 1, Chancellor Jim Kyle began his one-year term as Presiding Judge for the 30th Judicial District. Kyle was a Democratic member of the Tennessee State Senate, representing District 30 from 1982 to August 29, 2014. Prior to being elected judge, Kyle was a partner at the firm of Domico Kyle PLLC in Memphis. The firm focused on civil defense in the areas of health care, product liability, railway law, commercial litigation and general liability claims. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and a member of the Memphis Bar Association. Kyle has been named Legislator of the Year numerous times and was the 1985 recipient of the Henry Toll Fellowship of the Council of State Government.
INVESTITURE OF GADSON WILLIAM “WILL” PERRY
Perry was sworn in as Chancellor, Part 1, in the 30th Judicial District of Tennessee on August 25. Chancellor Jim Kyle and the Hon. Bernice Donald presided over the event, which featured remarks from several judicial, legislative and executive branch officials, and bar assocation leaders. Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins administered the oath of office.
LUCIAN PERA RUNNING FOR ABA PRESIDENT-ELECT
Former TBA president Lucian Pera, a partner at Adams and Reese, is one of two candidates running for American Bar Association (ABA) president-elect. Pera and Mary Smith of Illinois appeared before the ABA House of Delegates Nominating Committee Sunday during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago to make their case why they are the best candidate for the job. Both have served as ABA officers. Pera has served seven years on the ABA Board of Governors, including three as treasurer. Smith also served on the board for seven years and as secretary for three. The 69-member nominating committee will make its recommendation to the full House of Delegates for a final selection at the 2022 ABA Midyear Meeting, scheduled for next February in Seattle.
DARYL SMITH, CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE MAKES ABI TOP 40 UNDER 40
Congratulations to Chapter 13 Trustee Daryl Smith for being named a member of the American Bankruptcy Institutes “40 Under 40” initiative. The honorees will be recognized at a special ceremony to be held on Dec. 10 at ABI’s 2021 Winter Leadership Conference at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
