GAVELS Speakers Bureau

The Tennessee Bar Associations' Public Education Committee’s GAVELS Program is working to educate Tennesseans about the legal system, including significant foundational topics such as Separation of Powers, The Rule of Law, a Fair and Impartial Judiciary and Judicial Selection.

GAVELS is seeking judges and lawyers interested volunteering to speak to civic and other groups about these or related topics. Training and materials are provided for volunteers. 

Individuals interested in volunteering can watch the brief video below that provides additional information about GAVELS, the process of registering and the many resources that are available for presenters.

To register as a volunteer speaker or to obtain additional information about the GAVELS program, please contact Katharine Heriges, Public Education & Young Lawyers Division Coordinator at kheriges@tnbar.org or (615) 383-7421. 

GAVELS Volunteer Registration

GAVELS is seeking judges and lawyers throughout the state to speak to a variety of groups, such as schools, seniors, business and civic clubs, to name a few. Presentation topics, length and format may be adapted based on volunteer interest and the needs of the audience. 

Individuals interested in volunteering as part of the GAVELS Speakers Bureau are invited to complete a "Volunteer Registration Form" and return it to Katharine Heriges via email at kheriges@tnbar.org or via fax at (615) 297-8058. 

GAVELS Volunteer Registration Form

GAVELS Program Materials

These resource materials were selected from a variety of sources and should provide volunteer speakers with a wide range of topic options for presentations.  Some topics most relevant to "the Judicial System in Action" include the Rule of Law, a fair & impartial judiciary, Judicial Selection Process and separation of powers. Speakers will be able to tailor the presentation topics that are specifically requested or to points of interest relevant to the local community and rely upon these resources as a guide. 

Law Rules Materials - Memphis Bar Association

Q&A - Fair and Impartial Courts

DRI Judicial Task Force Report

Article-Remarks on Judicial Independence by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The Tennessee Plan - Keeping the Influence of Politics and Money Out of Our Courts 

Sample Presentations:
Option 1 - A History of Judicial Independence 
Option 2 - Consitutional Protections of Judicial Independence
Option 3 - Judicial Independence, the Rule of Law and the Importance of Litigation in America 

Requesting a GAVELS Speaker

The GAVELS Speakers Bureau offers presentations designed to explain, in everyday language, just how your judicial system works. Topics are available to fit the interests of any organization and presentations can be adapted from 15 minutes to one hour, depending on the needs of the group. 

To request a speaker, you may contact Katharine Heriges at kheriges@tnbar.org or 615-383-7421, or you may directly contact a judge or lawyer from our list of speakers found by clicking the desired county on the map below.