January 2026 Alumni News

Professor Ron Krotoszynski Receives International Science Award

Professor Ron Krotoszynski was named the laureate of the 2026 edition of the Ratio et Spes (Reason and Hope) Scientific Award, entitled The Relationship Between Freedom of Expression and the Protection of Human Dignity, for his book, Free Speech as Civic Structure: A Comparative Analysis of How Courts and Culture Shape the Freedom of Speech (Oxford University Press 2024). The Award is granted jointly by Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, and the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger–Benedict XVI. Click here to learn more.

Atticus DeProspo (‘19) Wins Pro Bono Fight at U.S. Supreme Court Amid Prestigious Service Recognition

Just six years after graduation, Atticus DeProspo ('19) served as merits counsel in a pro bono case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Ellingburg v. United States. At the same time, he was recognized for his commitment to expanding access to legal aid in the DC area, earning the Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. Click here to learn more.

Upcoming Events

Stay tuned for more great events coming up at the Law School this semester!

Gifts

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

Norton Bond (‘72) contributed $6,500 to the Alabama Law Alumni Society.

Laura Crum (‘82) and the Crum Family Charitable Foundation contributed a total of $10,000 to the Class of 1982 Endowed Scholarship.

Penny Davis (‘78) contributed $5,000 to the Alabama Law Summer Scholars Program Fund.

Dean Charles W. Gamble (‘68) contributed $5,000 to the Charles W. Gamble Endowed Scholarship.

Bill Hall (‘85) contributed $5,000 to the Alabama Law Alumni Society.

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

Richard S. Jaffe (‘76) contributed $10,000 to the Richard S. Jaffe Endowed Criminal Defense Law Scholarship.

Joy Longnecker (‘05) contributed $5,000 to the Alabama Law Alumni Society.

The Ben May Charitable Trust contributed $5,000 to the Ben May Endowed Scholarship.

Terry McCarthy (‘99) contributed $5,000 to the Charles W. Gamble Endowed Scholarship in honor of Dean Charles W. Gamble.

Susan R. Miller contributed $40,000 to the John C.H. Miller Jr. Scholarship in memory of her husband, John C.H. Miller Jr.

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

Jenny Gale Saphier (‘98) contributed $10,000 to the Fournier J. “Boots” Gale III Endowed Scholarship.

The Henry G. and Henry U. Sims Foundation contributed $10,000 to the Public Interest Law Fellowship Fund.

Cliff Slaten (‘87) contributed $5,000 to the Alabama Law Alumni Society.

Mike Stutts (‘80) contributed $5,000 to the Alabama Law Alumni Society.

Mike Taylor (‘71) contributed $15,000 to the Mike and Gina House DC Externship Student Support Fund.

Bruce Webster (‘82) contributed $5,000 to the Lanier 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 month. Visit www.give.ua.edu to make or renew your contribution.

Bryan C. Adams (‘93)
Joseph D. Aiello (‘98)
Robert H. Aland (‘63)
Stewart G. Austin Jr. (‘93)
Jennifer Boyd Baldock (‘96)
Belinda A. Barnett (‘86)
John C. Bell (‘91)
Donald H. Bevill (‘75)
David R. Boyd (‘73)
Michael J. Brandt (‘76)
Dean Bill Brewbaker
Hon. Eric G. Bruggink (‘75)
William J. Bryant (‘71)
Hon. Bradley R. Byrne (‘80)
Russell C. Buffkin Sr. (‘99)
Julian D. Butler (‘61)
Hon. Elizabeth Todd Campbell (‘77)
Andy P. Campbell (‘78)
Nathaniel M. Cartmell IV (‘14)
Tracy W. Cary (‘92)
Thomas H. Christopher (‘76)
Brian L. Church (‘09)
William N. Clark Sr. (‘71)
Clifford W. Cleveland II (‘97)
Hon. Joseph A. Colquitt (‘67)
Rochelle A. Conley (‘06)
Jennifer D. Cote (‘05)
Keith Covington (‘87)
Kevin B. Cronin (‘12)
Charles L. Denaburg (‘55)
Gerard J. Durward Jr. (‘97)
Sharonda C. Fancher (‘13)
Matthew T. Franklin (‘95)
Jonathan R. Geisen (‘00)
Robert M. Girardeau (‘76)
David L. Glasgow (‘89)
Hon. William R. Gordon (‘66)
W. Stanley Gregory (‘71)
Martha M. Griffith (‘09)
Anna M. Grizzle (‘98)
Hon. Steven E. Haddock (‘78)
Fulton S. Hamilton (‘72)
Ashley H. Hamlett (‘93)
Hon. George N. Hardesty Jr. (‘75)
Carleta R. Hawley (‘77)
Broox G. Holmes (‘54)
Hon. Ernest C. Hornsby (‘60)
David M. Huggins (‘81)
C. Dennis Hughes (‘92)
Hughston Legal Services LLC
Christopher G. Hume III (‘73)
Adam K. Israel (‘09)
John Jascob (‘15)
Edward D. Johnston (‘77)
Christopher R. Kelley (‘00)
Jonathan R. Kolodziej (‘12)
Virginia G. Koonce
Wesley L. Laird (‘83)
William R. Lane Jr. (‘77)
Byrd R. Latham (‘62)
Joseph R. Latham (‘19)
Dale Marsh (‘74)
Stephen W. Mazza (‘92)
Shannon E. McLaughlin (‘19)
Walter R. Meigs (‘73)
Kimberly H. Memmesheimer (‘98)
Brooks P. Milling (‘94)
Charles S. Money (‘63)
Carol G. Moore (‘81)
Yancey A. Moore III (‘86)
Andrew S. Nix (‘03)
Andrew J. Noble III (‘75)
P. Leigh O’Dell (‘93)
David R. Peeler (‘83)
Gary A. Phillips (‘76)
Jeffrey T. Powell (‘07)
Jonathan E. Raulston (‘98)
Hon. Donald N. Rizzardi (‘90)
Julia Smeds Roth (‘73)
S. Dagnal Rowe (‘69)
Hon. William A. Ryan (‘71)
Thomas H. Siniard (‘77)
Hon. Stephen G. Smith (‘91)
John A. Smyth III (‘96)
Dale B. Stone (‘75)
Thomas C. Sullivan (‘69)
Mark H. Taupeka (‘95)
Michael S. Teal (‘70)
T. Boice Turner Jr. (‘87)
Hugh W. Underwood III (‘73)
Oakley K. Vincent (‘83)
Laurence D. Vinson Jr. (‘69)
Lawrence Voit (‘69)
Megan H. Walsh (‘09)
Robert C. Walthall (‘64)
Hon. W. Keith Watkins (‘76)
Kendrick E. Webb (‘87)
David B. Welborn (‘04)
Stephen E. Whitehead (‘90)
C. Richard Wilkins (‘85)
Paul O. Woodall Jr. (‘95)
James W. Wright Jr. (‘10)
Amanda R. Wyatt (‘93)
Marce Wyrsch (‘02)
Dominique G. Young (‘16)

Class Notes

Keep us in the loop! Please send any updates to media@law.ua.edu.

William J. Babb (‘25) joined Stone Crosby as an associate in Daphne, Alabama.  

Hon. M. Brad Almond (‘90) retired as Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge after 17 years of service.

Rodney E. Barstein (‘82) was named to the board of directors of the Parkinson Association of Alabama.

Nicholas Belay (‘16) was elevated to partner in Akerman’s Consumer Financial Services, Data and Technology (CFS+) practice group in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Joel Caldwell (‘13) was elevated to principal at Cory Watson Attorneys in Birmingham.  

Nathaniel M. Cartmell IV (‘15) was elevated to shareholder at Maynard Nexsen in Birmingham.

Morgan Dennis (‘17) was elevated to partner in Haynes Boone’s Finance practice group in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Butch Ellis (‘64) was inducted into the Shelby County Hall of Fame and received a Cornerstone Award in Columbiana, Alabama.

Schuyler K. Espy (‘06) was named partner at Burr & Forman in Montgomery.

Congressman Shomari C. Figures (‘10) was the keynote speaker for the Port City Chapter of Blacks in Government’s 36th Annual Commemorative Breakfast in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Mobile.

Amy M. Fletcher (‘13) was named partner at Smith, Welch, Webb & White in Jackson, Georgia.

Thomas Hall (‘18) was named a member at Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison in Nashville.

Ryan L. Harding (‘07) joined Blank Rome as a partner in the Intellectual Property & Technology practice group and technology industry team.

Tinsley Griffin Hill (‘19) Joined HunterMaclean as an attorney in Savannah, Georgia.

Haley A. Hogue (‘22) was named to Momentum’s eighth Upward class in Birmingham.

Andrews C. Hudson (‘15) was appointed to the University of North Florida Board of Trustees in Jacksonville, Florida.

Madeline E. Hughes (‘18) was named partner at Burr & Forman in Birmingham.

Eunji Jo (‘17) was elevated to special counsel in Cadwalader’s Real Estate practice group in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sarah S. Johnston (‘00) was elected as a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

Madison R. King (‘25) joined Butler Snow’s Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation practice group as an associate in Birmingham.

Beth McGlaughn (‘92) received the 2025 Chancellor’s Award for Academic Faculty from the Alabama Community College System.

Keyarrow A. Moore-Bonner (‘21) was appointed Chief Labor Officer for the Alabama Department of Workforce.

Jay A. Patton Jr. (‘96) was named chair of Ogletree Deakins’ newly established Military Workforce practice group in Birmingham.

Sloane Bell Phillips (‘18) was elevated to partner in Balch & Bingham’s litigation practice in Birmingham.

Caleb Profitt (‘20) joined DBL Law as an associate in Cincinnati, Ohio.

David E. Rains (‘96) was elected to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

Russell Register (‘15) joined Florida State University College of Law as the Director of Professional Development.

Terri Sharpley Reynolds (‘08) joined Outside Chief Legal as Of Counsel in Mobile.

Mason Rollins (‘17) was elevated to partner at Bradley in Birmingham.

Jacob Salow (‘19) and Matthew Winne (‘19) were elevated to partners at Lightfoot, Franklin & White in Birmingham.

Hon. Corey Seale (‘16) was sworn in as Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge after being appointed by Governor Kay Ivey.

Nathan Simon (‘11) opened his construction law office, Simon Law, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Hon. Ronald W. Smith (‘00) was appointed to the Madison County Circuit Court in Huntsville by Governor Kay Ivey.

Hon. Zachary R. Walden (‘16) received the 2025 PRIDE of ETSU Award from the Eastern Tennessee State University National Alumni Association.

Tricia C. Wallwork (‘00) was named among Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 National Award winners.

The following alumni were named to Birmingham Business Journal’s 2026 40 Under 40 list:
Stanley E. Blackmon (‘15)
Samuel S. Grimes Jr. (‘16)
Charles W. Prueter (‘12)

The following alumni were named to Mobile Bay Magazine’s 2026 40 Under 40 list:
Aryne Hudson (‘22)
Joseph F. McGowin IV (‘12)
Julia James Shreve (‘11)

The following alumni were named shareholders at Maynard Nexsen in Birmingham:
Christian A. Pereyda (‘17)
James L. Sander III (‘17)
Mary Caroline Wynn (‘18)

Faculty Notes

Professor Mirit Eyal presented her paper, Taxation as Public Hedging, at the George Mason University Law & Economics Center Workshop on Risk Allocation in Nashville.

Professor Russell Gold’s article, Look What You Made Me Do, was published in Washington & Lee Law Review.

Dean Anita Kay Head was a panelist at AccessLex’s annual conference in Savannah, Georgia. The panel, Institutional Synergy: Supporting Bar Success from Day One, focused on collaborative efforts among law school units to support student success. Dean Head discussed Alabama Law’s academic success and bar exam initiatives, which benefit from the support of
administrators and faculty throughout the Law School.

Professor Ron Krotoszynski was named the laureate of the 2026 edition of the Ratio et Spes Scientific Award, entitled The Relationship Between Freedom of Expression and the Protection of Human Dignity, for his book, Free Speech as Civic Structure: A Comparative Analysis of How Courts and Culture Shape the Freedom of Speech (Oxford University Press 2024). The Award is granted jointly by Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, and the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger–Benedict XVI.

Professor Krotoszynski’s article, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A Comparative Constitutional Analysis of Whistleblowing Speech, the Government’s Managerial Domain, and the Imperatives of Democratic Self-Government, was published in Minnesota Law Review. Additionally, Professor Krotoszynski wrote the chapter Consensus, Conflict, and Complementarity: A Global Perspective on the Freedom of Expression in the recently-published second edition of Comparative Constitutional Theory (Gary Jacobsohn & Miguel Schor eds., Edward Elgar Publishing 2025).

Professor Krotoszynski travelled to the Sorbonne University School of Law, in Paris, France, for its annual IMODEV Conference on free expression, government transparency, and digital regulation. There, he presented his forthcoming chapter, Regulating Private Social Media Platforms in the Shadow of the First Amendment: Some Comparative Law Observations and Lessons on the Scope of Fundamental Rights, at a panel entitled Across the Great Divide: Platform Regulation and the Freedom of Expression in the United States and Europe. The chapter will appear in a forthcoming edited volume, published by Oxford University Press, on which Professor Krotoszynski serves as a co-editor. At the IMODEV Conference, he also moderated a panel entitled The U.K. Online Protection Act: Implications for Freedom of Expression.

Professor Krotoszynski presented Can He Do That? 2.0? at an American Constitution Society event held at the Law School, in which he considered the constitutionality of the Trump administration’s unilateral expansion of executive branch authority. He also presented “Gitlow Revisited: Disentangling Ideas and Crimes Via the Harm Principle” at a faculty workshop at the Seattle University School of Law. This article will be published later this semester in the Journal of Free Speech Law, a peer edited law journal.

Professor Tobie Smith contributed to an Alabama Lawyer article about Outside the Walls, an organization co-founded by Professor Emerita Pam Pierson that offers resources to formerly incarcerated people.

Professor Sean Tu published four articles: Tertiary Patents on Drugs Approved by the FDA in JAMA Health Forum (with Theodore W. Teng, Helen Mooney, Liam Bendicksen, Sarah M.E. Gabriele, Olivier J. Wouters & William B. Feldman); Serial Patent Litigation: An Emerging Strategy to Delay Entry of Generic Competition in Health Affairs Scholar (with Timothy Bonis & Aaron S. Kesselheim); Response to Letter to the Editor regarding the July 2025 article, The Strength and Importance of Government-Funded Patents for Approved Drugs, in Nature Biotechnology (with Sarah M.E. Gabriele, Matthew J. Martin & Aaron S. Kesselheim); and Combination-Only Approvals as a Barrier to Affordable HIV Care in JAMA (with Timothy Bonis, Michael S. Sinha & David H. Slade).

Professor Tu co-wrote an amicus brief in response to the U.S. Patent & Trademarks Office’s (USPTO) proposed rule changes for inter partes review (with Arti Rai & Aaron S. Kesselheim). He also signed on to an amicus brief in response to the USPTO’s proposed rule changes for inter partes review. Additionally, Professor Tu presented Breaking Good: The Future of Health at the Institute for Humane Studies in Austin, Texas.