Executive Director’s Report, 0517 ALBJ, 78 The Alabama Lawyer 182 (2017)

AuthorKeith B. Norman, J.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Vol. 78 No. 3 Pg. 182

Alabama Bar Lawyer

May, 2017

Keith B. Norman, J.

So Long, Farewell and God Bless

This is the 136th “Executive Director’s Report” that I have prepared. My intention when I first started writing these bimonthly reports (except maybe this one) has been to open the door a bit wider on the Alabama State Bar and the legal profession. On those occasions when I have felt compelled to provide my unvarnished opinion, I attempted to be fair and as non-judgmental as I could be. I am certain that I overplayed my hand on occasion–perhaps many occasions. In any event, I hope that these writings have given Alabama lawyers, the readers, a better perspective and a clearer picture of our shared history as an organized bar, the operations of the association and national trends or activities about the legal profession.

My service as executive director these many years has not occurred in a vacuum. There have been many people both in the present and the past who have been critical to whatever success I have had during my tenure. First among those who have played a significant role in this association have been our two previous executive directors, John B. scott, who served from 1950-1969, and reggie Hamner, who served from 1969-1994.These two men are responsible for the facilities we have today and for developing the bar’s operations as a full-fledged regulatory agency and member service organization. Without their leadership, this association would not be what it is today. Thanks to Judge Scott and Reggie, I had a head start as executive director and I feel very humbled to have followed them and to have worked in the association that they helped forge. I look forward to passing this torch to Phillip mcCallum. I know he will continue the legacy begun by Judge Scott and Reggie and that he will serve the bar well, becoming only its fourth executive director in the last 67 years.

Next, I have had the good fortune to work with an exemplary group of lawyers who have served on the bar’s governing body, the Board of Bar Commissioners. In my 23 years as executive director and secretary of the board, I have worked with more than 200 lawyers who have served on the commission. These are lawyers who are among the most respected lawyers in our state and are elected to serve on the commission by their colleagues in their respective judicial circuits. These...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT