Lawyers, Reporter, Former TBA Staffer Honored with Awards at Lawyers Lunch - Articles

All Content

Lawyers, Reporter, Former TBA Staffer Honored with Awards at Lawyers Lunch

Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Jun 14, 2024

At the 2024 Lawyers Luncheon, outgoing TBA President Jim Barry presented a number of awards. Memphis lawyer Miles Mason Sr. received the Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing for his article on establishing paternity for unmarried parents in the November/December 2024 issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal. Cookeville attorney Laura Dykes received the Fifth Annual Claudia Jack Award for her work as a public defender in Davidson County and in the 13th Judicial District in Cookeville. Nashville Public Radio reporter Meribah Knight received the Fourth Estate Award to for her four-part podcast "The Kids of Rutherford County," which spotlighted the inhumane treatment of juveniles in Rutherford County. In addition, new TBA Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin presented Memphis attorney and former TBA President Bill Haltom with the William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award from the TBA Young Lawyers Division Fellows.

Barry presented his President’s Awards to Ann Pruitt and Linda Seely, for their work as Access to Justice Committee co-chairs; to Kendra Mansur, Laura Brown and Rachel Moses for their work on new TBA initiatives to address safe and stable housing; and to former Assistant Executive Director Barry Kolar for his 23 years of service to TBA, serving twice as interim executive director. See photos from the event.

Ann Pruitt (right) receives a President's Award for her work on the Access to Justice Committee and ATJ initiatives

Rachel Moses (left) receives a President's Award for her work on the Pets in Crisis initiative, helping people and pets in domestic violence situations

Barry Kolar (right) receives a President's Award for his years of service to the TBA

Bill Haltom receives the Leech Award from the YLD Fellows