January 2025

Public Interest Institute Celebrates 25 Years

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Public Interest Institute at Alabama Law, Professor Pam Pierson (founder of the Institute) and Cassandra Adams (Assistant Dean for Public Interest Law and Assistant Professor in Residence) join Dean Bill Brewbaker in discussing how the Institute was formed, the impact it makes for students and the local community, and the Law School’s vision for the Institute’s future.

Alabama Basketball Tailgate

Come tailgate with Dean Brewbaker and Alabama Law before Bama tips off against Kentucky on Saturday, February 22! The tailgate will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the head foyer just inside the student entrance at the Law School. Parking will be available in the front and east parking lots. Click here to RSVP!

Alabama Law Alumni & Friends Social in Washington, DC

Calling all DC alumni! Join Dean Brewbaker and Alabama Law on Tuesday, March 4, in Washington, DC. We will be touring The People’s House at 4:30 p.m. followed by a reception on the rooftop of King & Spalding at 6:00 p.m. Click here to RSVP!

Gifts

Recognition of gifts of $5,000+ over the past month

Bill and Becky Brewbaker pledged $25,000 to the School of Law Naming Opportunities Support Fund for the Path Makers Legacy Plaza.

The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama contributed an undisclosed amount to the School of Law Naming Opportunities Support Fund for the Path Makers Legacy Plaza.

Harwell E. Coale Jr. (’64) contributed $10,000 to the Harwell E. Coale Endowed Scholarship.

The Alabama Chapter of Order of the Coif contributed $8,000 to the Order of the Coif Endowed Scholarship.

Charles J. Cooper (’77) contributed $50,000 to the Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Cooper Endowed Scholarship.

Mark A. Crosswhite (’87) contributed $5,000 to the Alabama Law Alumni Society.

Laura L. Crum (’82) contributed $24,345 to the Crum Family Endowed Lecture for Law and Business.

James Timothy Francis (’84) contributed $10,000 to the James Timothy Francis Endowed Scholarship.

Billy Glen Hall (’85) contributed $5,000 to the Law School Foundation Unrestricted Fund.

Dean and Mrs. Nathaniel Hansford contributed $20,000 to the Nathaniel Hansford and Frances Fincher Hansford Endowed Scholarship.

William P. Jackson Jr. (’63) and Barbara Seignious Jackson contributed $50,000 to the William P. Jackson Jr. and Barbara Seignious Jackson Endowed Scholarship.

Richard S. Jaffe (’76) pledged $50,000 with an initial payment of $10,000 to establish the Richard S. Jaffe Endowed Criminal Defense Scholarship. He will also contribute an additional $50,000 to the scholarship through his estate.

D. Paul Jones (’67) and The Jones Family Fund contributed $5,000 to the Balch and Bingham Law and Business Roundtable Endowed Support Fund.

Hon. Hardie B. Kimbrough Sr. (’68) contributed $5,000 to the Judge Hardie B. Kimbrough Endowed Scholarship.

The Ben May Charitable Trust contributed $7,500 to the Ben May Endowed Scholarship.

Terrence W. McCarthy (’99) contributed $5,000 to the School of Law Naming Opportunities Support Fund for the Path Makers Legacy Plaza.

J. Cole Portis (’90) contributed $5,000 to the Alabama Law Alumni Society.

The Albert G. Rives (’24) Charitable Trust contributed $5,916.66 to the Albert G. and Hester Rives Fund.

The Henry G. Sims and Henry U. Sims Memorial Fund contributed $10,000 to the Henry G. Sims and Henry U. Sims Memorial Fund.

Clifton E. Slaten (’87) contributed $5,000 to the Dean’s Discretionary Fund.

John A. Smyth III (’96) contributed $5,000 to the Law School Foundation Unrestricted Fund.

J. Michael (’97) and Jennifer Taylor contributed $15,000 to the Mike and Gina House DC Student Support Fund.

James F. Watkins (’92) contributed $5,000 to the School of Law Naming Opportunities Support Fund for the Path Makers Legacy Plaza as part Maynard Nexsen’s pledge.

Bruce C. Webster (’82) contributed $10,138.97 to the Dean’s Discretionary Fund.

The following alumni and friends (not mentioned above) either made or renewed an annual giving contribution to the Alabama Law Alumni Society this past month. Visit www.give.ua.edu to make or renew your contribution.

Class Notes

Emily K. Caldwell (‘17) has become a shareholder at Maynard Nexsen in Charlotte, North Carolina.  

Andrew R. Dolan (‘15) was named to Mobile Bay Magazine’s 2025 Class of 40 Under 40.  

Rachel England (‘21) was appointed by Governor Ivey as the district attorney for the 17th District of Alabama.   

C. Mark Erwin (‘98) was sworn in as Mobile County’s 29th Judge of Probate.  

Congressman Shomari C. Figures (‘10) was named to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Agriculture Committee in the 119th Congress.  

Molly E. Glisson (‘24) and Annie C. Hughes (‘24) joined Burr & Forman as associates in Birmingham.  

Hon. Jim Hughey (‘98) is retiring from the Jefferson County Circuit Court after 12 years of service and will join SchreiberADR to focus on mediation, arbitration, and private judging.  

Shelby E. Kostolni (‘23) joined Stinson as an associate in Washington, DC.  

Mason A. Kruse (‘22) was reelected to the Birmingham Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section executive committee.  

Christy B. Kuklinski (‘17) has become a partner at Balch & Bingham in Birmingham.  

Blake A. Madison (‘91) was named to the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.  

Aaron McLeod (‘08) has become a partner at Adams & Reese in Birmingham.  

David W. Morton (‘17) has become a shareholder at Maynard Nexsen in Birmingham.  

Edward J. Peterson III (‘99) has become an equity partner at Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns in Tampa, Florida.  

Laura A. Pizzitola (‘15) has become a partner at Bressler Amery & Ross in Birmingham.  

Amy E. Roark (‘11) was named to Momentum Leader’s inaugural Upward class for North Alabama.  

Jared Searls (‘16) and Andrew Shaver (‘13) have become partners at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in Birmingham.  

Crystal Smitherman (‘19) received the National League of Cities’ Centennial Under 40 Impact Award.  

Jason Thomas (‘99) has joined Fiduciary Trust International as a wealth director in Atlanta.  

Adam Wicker (‘20) joined Shuffield Lowman as an associate in Orlando, Florida.  

Alex Wyatt (‘99) took office as the new mayor of Homewood, Alabama.  

The following alumni were named to the seventh class of Momentum’s Upward Program:  
Meredith W. Alsabrook (‘12)  
Mazie R. Bryant (‘20) 
Morgan P. Epperson (‘18) 
Amy D. Logan (‘15) 

The following alumni have joined Bradley Arant Boult & Cummings as associates:  
Julianne L. Bayer (‘23) (Birmingham) 
Tamara R. Boles (‘24) (Charlotte, North Carolina)  
AJ Brien (‘24) (Huntsville)  
Elizabeth A. Brown (‘23) (Washington, DC)  
Katelyn E. Carson (‘22) (Birmingham)  
Marlee T. Martin (‘24) (Birmingham)  
Trevor G. Porter (‘24) (Huntsville)  
Jon Michael Sockwell (‘24) (Nashville)  
Zachary B. Stewart (‘24) (Birmingham)  

Faculty Notes

Professor Ron Krotoszynski’s book, Free Speech as Civic Structure: A Comparative Analysis of How Courts and Culture Shape the Freedom of Speech (Oxford University Press), was nominated for the 2024 Book of the Year by the International Forum on the Future of Constitutionalism.  

Professor Daiquiri Steele was elected to the American Law Institute.