Judge Haynes honored at association’s annual convention

NASHVILLE, June 22, 2016 – U.S. District Court Judge William Joseph Haynes Jr. was honored with the Tennessee Bar Association’s Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award at the association’s convention in Nashville last week. Haynes, who serves on the federal District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, was recognized for his outstanding and dedicated service to the courts and the legal community. The award was presented by outgoing TBA President Bill Harbison.

Judge Haynes was nominated by President Bill Clinton in May 1999 to fill a vacancy on the district court and was confirmed in November 1999. He served as chief judge of the court from 2012 to 2014 and assumed senior status on Dec. 1, 2014. Haynes earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1973. He served in the Tennessee Attorney General’s office from 1973 to 1984 and as U.S. Magistrate for the Middle District of Tennessee from 1984 to 1999.

The Drowota Award is given annually to a judge or judicial branch official of a federal, state or local court in Tennessee who has demonstrated extraordinary devotion and dedication to the improvement of the law, the American legal system and the administration of justice as exemplified by the career of Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Frank F. Drowota – the award’s first recipient.

In addition to the recognition by peers, the recipient of the Drowota Award is allowed to direct a gift of $1,000 to the charity of his or her choosing. The gift is made possible each year by a donation by Justice Drowota and a matching gift from the Frist Foundation.

The 2016 Tennessee Bar Association Annual Convention was held in conjunction with several other legal organizations, including the Tennessee Judicial Conference, the Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women (TLAW) and the Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (TABL). This joint meeting allows legal groups in the state to address common issues and concerns and offers opportunities for additional education, long-range planning, and recognition of attorneys who have performed outstanding legal work and community service.