PAID ADVERTISEMENT
THE TRIAL LAWYER HALL OF FAME - 2011
From left, Jones, Schlesinger, Cotchett, Gray
Throughout American History, exceptional trial lawyers have exceeded the expectations of the public and their peers by clearly establishing themselves, through their practice, as true champions and crusaders for American justice. Each year, The Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame recognizes and honors a few remarkable individuals, both past and present, who have left an indelible mark on the American legal tradition through a lifetime of service to the American public, the Constitution, and the American trial bar.
THE 2011 INDUCTEES
ELAINE R. JONES was the President and Director-Counsel, Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. She grew up in the Jim Crow South where she witnessed racism firsthand and knew she wanted to be a lawyer. In 1970, she became the first black woman to defend death row inmates, and played a key role in securing passage of the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982, the Fair Housing Act of 1988, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988 and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. Elaine holds numerous honorary degrees and awards, including the Jefferson Medal of Freedom. President Clinton presented Elaine with the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award in 2000.
JOSEPH W. COTCHETT is considered to be one of the great trial lawyers who has dedicated much of his legal career to public justice with a prolific history of pro bono work. He represented environmental, public interest groups, and the less fortunate against powerful interests. He took on the Ku Klux Klan, the FBI, Filipino children against the US Navy, numerous discrimination cases, and Wall Street Banks. Honored as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates, a Master of the American Inns of Court, he served as a former Special Forces Officer and JAG Colonel in the Army.
FRED D. GRAY, SR. was a decisive factor in putting an end to racial segregation in the American South. Mr. Gray represented Rosa Parks in the case that would initiate the Montgomery Bus Boycott and eventually lead to the integra- tion of the city’s public transportation. He was the first civil rights lawyer for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1960, he successfully argued in the Supreme Court against the redistricting of city limits to change voting privileges. The court’s unanimous decision became the landmark case in the efforts to gain full voting rights for African Americans. He served in the Alabama Legislature and was President of the Alabama Bar.
SHELDON J. SCHLESINGER is known as one of Florida’s greatest trial lawyers, and is regarded as one of the out- standing attorneys in the country. With a “bulldog for the underdog” reputation, he won significant verdicts and settle- ments in numerous high profile cases. In 1995, he was part of the legal team that successfully sued the tobacco industry on behalf of the state of Florida, resulting in a landmark settlement of over $13 billion. An avid supporter of charitable organizations, the Schlesinger family is actively involved in the Florida community.
Honored posthumously were Percy Foreman, Earl Rogers, Edward Bennett Williams, and Perry Nichols.
www.thenationaltriallawyers.org
THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO ATTORNEY 15
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