At the 2025 Lawyers Luncheon, outgoing TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr. presented a number of awards. Nashville lawyer Laura Kidwell received the Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing for her article "It Is So Ordered: A Primer on Tennessee’s Final Judgment Rule." Federal Public Defender Dumaka Shabazz received the Claudia Jack Award for his work mentoring other lawyers. The Fourth Estate Award was presented to the Nashville Banner for a series of stories last year designed to bring transparency and accountability to the Davidson County Criminal Court. The William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award from the TBA Young Lawyers Division Fellows went to 21st Judicial District Circuit Court Judge and Chancellor David Veile. Lanquist also presented his President’s Awards. Representatives from the executive and judicial branch, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby, were recognized for their work securing funding for a new indigent representation system. TBA's legislative team also received awards for their efforts. In her remarks, Kirby thanked the TBA for its strong support on the issue and presented it the "Chief Justice Partnership for Justice Award." Finally, Lanquist honored the members of the TBA Building Committee, which worked to secure a new permanent home for the association.

Left: Chief Justice Holly Kirby (left) and TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr.
Right: Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin (left) presents Laura Kidwell with the Justice Joe Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing.

Left: Judge David Veile (left) receives the Leech Award from YLD Fellows President Michelle Greenway Sellers.
Right: Amy Harwell (left) receives the Claudia Jack Award on behalf of Dumaka Shabazz from Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin.

Michelle Long (left) and Joe Byrd (right) receive President's Awards from President Lanquist for their work on indigent representation. TBA Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin presented the awards.

Erin Merrick (left) and Brandon Gibson (right) receive President's Awards from President Lanquist. Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin presented the awards.

From left, TBA's legislative team of Brad Lampley, Berkley Schwarz, Ashley Harbin, John Farringer and Sheree Wright receive President's Awards for their work on indigent representation. Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin (fourth from left) presented the awards.

Members of the TBA Building Committee from left: Past TBA Presidents Jim Barry, Sherie Edwards, Michelle Greenway Sellers and Sarah Sheppeard, Vice President Charlotte Knight Griffin and President-elect Heidi Barcus, received President's Awards from President Ed Lanquist Jr.