Winston Law to Name Leadership Institute for Judge Reeves - Articles

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Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Dec 18, 2025

The University of Tennessee Winston College of Law announced in its Fall 2025 newsletter that it will rename the Institute for Professional Leadership in honor of the late Judge Pamela L. Reeves. A 1979 graduate of the law school, Reeves was the first woman to serve as both district judge and chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Prior to joining the bench, she was respected mediator in private practice and served as TBA president from 1998-1999. According to the school, the renaming is being made possible through the generosity of the Larry Wilks Distinguished Practitioner in Residence George “Buck” T. Lewis and his wife Malinda. Lewis is a co-founder of the institute. A dedication ceremony will be held in the spring with support from Reeves’ husband and Knoxville lawyer Charles Swanson. Lewis and Swanson also are former TBA presidents.