Former Tennessee Chief Justice William M. “Muecke” Barker, of counsel with the firm of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, was the keynote speaker at Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s Southern Region Annual Campaign Kick Off Breakfast at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on Sept. 16.
Chief Justice Barker enthusiastically reviewed the history of the Tennessee Supreme Court’s adoption of access to justice as its highest priority during his tenure on the Court. This bold initiative has placed Tennessee in the forefront of the America’s access to justice movement, and has made Tennessee national model.
To Chattanooga bar leaders, Justice Barker also addressed the funding challenges faced by legal aid programs, including reduced federal and IOLTA funding. And, despite rescued funding, the critical legal needs by low-income Tennesseans only increases. He called on individual lawyers and law firms to step up and support the LAET Annual Campaign and LAET’s strong Pro Bono Project in Chattanooga.
Annual Campaign Chair Chuck Flynn, attorney at Luther-Anderson, also shared inspiring remarks.