CHATTANOOGA — Russell Fowler, a distinguished lawyer based in Chattanooga, is set to receive the prestigious Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing. The honor will be presented to him during the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) Annual Convention in Knoxville at the Lawyers Luncheon on June 16. Established nearly 40 years ago, this highly regarded accolade recognizes Fowler’s exceptional article published in the Tennessee Bar Journal, a distinction awarded annually to the lawyer who authors the most exceptional piece in the preceding year.
Fowler’s remarkable contribution, titled “Tennessee Lawyers Impact America: A History of Advancing the Right to Vote,” along with its companion piece “Dunn v. Blumstein: A Young Tennessee Lawyer Wins Expansion of the Right to Vote,” captivated readers in the March/April 2022 issue of the Journal.
The Joe Henry Award pays tribute to the former chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, renowned for his forthright and clear writing style. Its purpose is to foster a culture of scholarly yet practical legal writing among Tennessee lawyers, providing maximum benefit to members of the bar. A committee comprising the chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court or their representative, designated deans from prominent law schools in the state on a rotating basis, and the president of the Tennessee Bar Association collaboratively select the recipient. This year’s panel of judges included Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger A. Page, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law Dean Matthew Lyon, University of Tennessee College of Law Dean Lonnie Brown, and TBA President Tasha Blakney.
Fowler, who currently serves as the Director of Litigation and Advocacy at Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET), has been an esteemed adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga since 1999. He began his legal career as a law clerk to Chancellor C. Neal Small in Memphis and obtained his law degree from the University of Memphis in 1987. Fowler is an exceptional writer, having authored numerous publications on law and legal history, and he is a regular columnist for the Tennessee Bar Association Journal.
About Legal Aid of East Tennessee
Across 26 counties — from Chattanooga to the Tri-Cities — Legal Aid of East Tennessee provides civil legal representation for those who need it most. The elderly. Victims of domestic violence. Low-income families. All those who face a legal challenge yet don’t have the vital assistance they need. Every day, we proudly answer the call for high-quality legal services that help change lives and improve communities.
For more information about Legal Aid of East Tennessee, please contact their Knoxville office at 865–637-0484, email tg*****@la**.org, or visit www.laet.org.
