TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Dec 30, 2021

Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Tennessee Kelley Henry is featured in a recap of the ABA Journal’s 2021 “Members Who Inspire” series. The series showcases exceptional American Bar Association members who encourage and energize others with their good work. Henry, who is chief of the Capital Habeas Unit, is known as a champion for death row inmates, recently representing death row inmates Lisa Montgomery and Pervis Payne. Arguing her client was incompetent for execution, Henry won several stays for Montgomery before she was ultimately executed in January, marking the first federal execution of a woman in 67 years. Payne’s death sentence was recently set aside by a Shelby County court after Henry and her team argued a recent state law barring the execution of those with mental challenges applied to Payne’s case. Read more about Henry from the ABA Journal.