Members of the Chattanooga Bar Association convened on May 31 to celebrate the rule of law, and the most important meal of the day, in a breakfast edition of the bar’s annual Law Day event. About 300 lawyers, judges and other legal professionals enjoyed a traditional Southern buffet at the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center as well as a keynote speech by U.S. Senator Bob Corker, who spoke on the importance of making lasting changes to how the nation spends money.
Corker did not mince words as he spoke about the need for “a binding cap on federal spending.”
“We have at the highest levels of our government a desire to keep our citizens free, safe and secure. Underneath that, we have the issue of ensuring our students in Chattanooga and across the country are internationally competitive. We see other countries growing economically, and worry about the future of our young people and their ability to be No. 1, or at least prosperous partners with other nations.
“Beneath that, we have the issue that’s taking all of the oxygen out of the room in Washington: spending. What we have seen across our democracy are politicians on both sides of the table giving citizens what they want without the commensurate discipline. And our citizens have been happy being given things they know the country can’t afford.
“So, all of a sudden, there exists across our county a tremendous volatility. We are in great turmoil as we face the greatest threat to our nation’s sovereignty, security and economic growth.”
Corker used a slide show to summarize a federal spending cap proposal he supports and is traveling the country to promote. Using figures from the Congressional Budget Office, he showed that the debt of the U.S. is 62 percent of its domestic product. Without changes in spending, that number could rise to 146 percent by 2030, he said. Corker also spoke out in favor of changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
The crowd gave Corker a standing ovation at the conclusion of his remarks.
The senator began his address on a lighthearted note by drawing lines of comparison between lawyers and politicians.
“As I was looking over what I would be doing this week, I saw that I would be coming here, and wondered how my career had evolved to the point where I would be a speaker at Law Day. I have always been a civic leader and a business guy, which are respectable places to be, but now I’m part of a class of folks who catch the brunt of everyone’s jokes – politicians. So, I have a lot of empathy for you.”
Once the laughter in the room had died down, Corker spoke about the importance of having “appropriate rule of law.”
“It only takes going to any country that doesn’t have lawyers like you making sure the rule of law is working, and seeing the lack of economic growth, innovation and freedom there to understand how important you are. So, on this Law Day, I thank you for what you do.”
The Bar then thanked specific members of the legal community for their contributions to the legal profession and the Chattanooga community with its annual Law Day awards.
Paralegal utilization award
Laysha McCullaugh, president of the Southeast Tennessee Paralegals Association, presented the Judge W. Neil Thomas III Paralegal Utilization Award to attorney Caroline Stefaniak of Husch Blackwell for her “commitment to the understanding of paralegal responsibilities and utilization, the delegation and oversight of paralegal responsibilities,” and for setting a standard of excellence in the legal profession.
Liberty Bell Award
Each year, the bar honors one Chattanooga citizen with the Liberty Bell Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize community service that has strengthened the American system of freedom under law. This year’s recipient was Tennessee Deputy Governor Claude Ramsey, whose record of service in Hamilton County dates back 40 years.
Before announcing Ramsey as the recipient, the Honorable Clarence Shattuck said this year’s winner is “literally a local boy who made good.”
The son of a farmer, Ramsey’s career in public service began in 1972 with his election to the Tennessee state legislature. He then served as delegate to the Tennessee Constitutional Convention in 1977. The 33 years that followed included stints as Hamilton County commissioner, county assessor of property, and Hamilton County mayor.
Ramsey’s record of community service is even longer. He’s served on the Orange Grove board of directors, the board of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau, as a trustee at Erlanger Hospital, as the original chairman for the Chattanooga State Community College Foundation, as president of the Harrison Jaycees, as officer of the statewide assessors of property organization, and as president of the Tennessee County Officials Association.
Ramsey added the Liberty Bell Award to a litany of honors he’s received over the years. Shattuck named only a few, including Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year, the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, an award for excellence in property assessment, the Tennessee Wildlife Award, the Tennessee Outstanding County Official Award, and more.
“The positive things that have happened in our county can in large part be attributed to Claude Ramsey. He’s a great leader, and a motivator who knows how to talk the language of every person, whether Democrat or Republican, rich or poor. He puts the needs of other people first.”
Shattuck also called Ramsey “the driving force behind the Volkswagen plant coming to Chattanooga.”
Ramsey offered a few words of thanks upon accepting the award.
“All I can say is thank you. So many people helped me along the way. I’m honored.”
Essay award winners
To celebrate Law Day, the bar invites every public, private and home-schooled student in Hamilton County to participate in an essay contest. The winner receives a college scholarship from the Bar Association and Foundation.
The theme for the 2011 contest mirrored the theme for this year’s Law Day: the legacy of John Adams. This provided students “with an opportunity to explore the historical and contemporary role of lawyers in defending the rights of the accused, and to renew their understanding of and appreciation for the rule of law,” Lynda Hood, executive director of the bar, said as she announced the awards.
The first place winner was Red Bank High School senior Ashton Banta, who also won the statewide competition. She will be taking honors courses at the University of Alabama this fall.
McCallie School junior Alexander Bailey placed second, while McCallie School junior John Miller placed third.
New Fellows
During the Law Day celebration, Michael St. Charles Jr., chair of the Chattanooga Bar Foundation Fellows, introduced the Fellows Class of 2011. Fellows are members of the bar who have been practicing for at least 15 years and have made notable contributions to the community. Through their financial contributions, the Foundation supports various law-related causes.
“It is said you don’t have to be rich to be a philanthropist, and when you talk about the Chattanooga Bar Fellows, that’s an apt description,” St. Charles said.
New fellows include Lane Avery, Carl Hartley, Bill Horton, Mike McMahan, John Rice and Brad Weeks.
Until Law Day 2012
Law Day is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. While the country observes it once a year, the judges and lawyers in the ballroom of the Convention and Trade Center on the morning of May 31 work each day to honor the place of law in the lives of the citizens of Hamilton County and beyond.
With the conclusion of Law Day 2011, they returned to the task of contributing to the freedoms all American share, their minds set on doing the work that will give them a reason to celebrate the rule of law again in one year’s time.