The following awards were presented at the 2026 TBA Convention in Knoxville:

Justice Frank F. Drowota III Award

The Justice Frank F. Drowota Award is given to a judge or judicial branch official of a federal, state or local court in Tennessee who has demonstrated extraordinary devotion and dedication to the improvement of the law, our legal system and the administration of justice as exemplified by the career of Justice Frank F. Drowota III. The 2026 award was presented to former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Roger Page during the Lawyers Luncheon on June 12. Read more about Page's selection.

Claudia Jack Award

The Claudia Jack Award honors an outstanding public defender or court-appointed private practitioner who has served the legal community and their clients in an exemplary fashion. It is named after the late Claudia Jack, a public defender and long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged. The 2026 award was presented to Peter Oh with the Federal Public Defender's Office in Memphis during the Lawyers Luncheon on June 12. Read more about Oh's selection as this year's award recipient.

Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award

The Judge Pamela L. Reeves Tennessee Professionalism Award is presented by the TBA and Tennessee’s American Inns of Court to a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the rule of law and the highest standards of the legal profession in Tennessee. The 2026 award was presented to U.S. District Court Judge Thomas A. Varlan with the Eastern District of Tennessee. He was recognized for his long tenure on the bench and exhibiting the highest level of integrity and professionalism in his work. 

Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing

The Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing honors the lawyer who writes the most outstanding article that is published in the Tennessee Bar Journal for the preceding year. The purpose of the award is to encourage practicing Tennessee lawyers to write scholarly yet practical articles that will be of maximum benefit to the members of our bar. The 2026 award was presented to Nashville lawyers Erik Halvorson and J. Hunter Robinson, both with Bradley.

Fourth Estate Award

The Fourth Estate Award honors courageous reporting on justice and the law by Tennessee-based journalists. Work should promote public understanding of the rule of law and how the legal system works. Winners are selected by an ad hoc committee of the TBA Communications Section. The 2026 award was presented to Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Tyler Whetstone at the Lawyers Lunch on June 12. Read more about his work.

TBA Public Service Awards

The TBA’s Access to Justice Committee recognized the 2026 Public Service Award recipients at a Public Service Breakfast on June 11. Garrah Carter-Mason with Bass, Berry & Sims in Nashville received the 2026 Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award. Knoxville lawyer Jennifer Egelston with Legal Aid of East Tennessee received the 2026 Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney of the Year Award. And Sierra Sidoti, a student at the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, received the 2026 Law Student of the Year Award. The TBA Young Lawyers Division also presented its CASA Volunteer of the Year Award to Tracy Farmer, a volunteer with Williamson County CASA.

TBA President’s Awards

TBA President Heidi Barcus presented awards to lawyers for outstanding service during her year as president during the Lawyers Luncheon during Convention. She honored the members of the TBA Legal Access and Regulatory Reform Task Force as well as the co-chairs of the of the TBA Leadership Law Program. A final award was presented to former TBA President Howard Vogel for his wise counsel. Read more about these recognitions.

YLD Fellows William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award

The TBA YLD Fellows' William M. Leech Jr. Public Service Award honors a Tennessee lawyer who has been of outstanding service to the profession, legal system and the community. The award is named for former Attorney General William M. Leech and was given to him posthumously in 1997. The 2026 award was presented to Memphis lawyer and former TBA President Buck Lewis at the Lawyers Luncheon on June 12. Read more about Lewis' selection in the TBA's press release.

Larry Dean Wilks Leadership Award

The TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) class presented the Larry Dean Wilks Leadership Award to 2026 class member Chris Bellamy. The award recognizes a class member with exceptional leadership qualities. It is named for former TBA president and Springfield lawyer Larry Wilks, who was instrumental in creating the TBALL program. Wilks died Aug. 30, 2011. Read more about Bellamy's selection.