Claudia Jack Award Recipients

The award is named after the late Claudia Jack, a long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged and a public defender. Award recipients are selected by a committee consisting of the TBA vice president; speaker of the TBA House of Delegates; and the chairs of TBA’s Access to Justice Committee, Criminal Law Section and Juvenile & Children’s Law Section.


Award Recipients


2020: Federal Public Defender Henry Martin, Nashville

2021: Assistant Public Defender Willie Santana, Knoxville

2022: Assistant Public Defender Brennan Wingertner, Franklin

2023: Attorney Mary Bonita Tucker, Rutherford County

2024: Assistant Public Defender Laura Dykes, Cookeville