LAET Inducts Two into the Pro Bono Hall of Fame

CHATTANOOGA (October 19, 2016) – Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) has inducted two longtime members of the judiciary into its Chattanooga Pro Bono Hall of Fame. Former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice William M. Barker and retired Hamilton County Chancellor Howell N. Peoples were recognized in a ceremony held October 18th in LAET’s Chattanooga office. The reception and induction were held in celebration of October as “National Celebrate Pro Bono Month.”

Both Justice Barker and Chancellor Peoples were trailblazers in the access to justice movement. Justice Barker, who served on the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1995 to 2009, was the first Chief Justice to make equal access to justice the Supreme Court’s top priority. To this day, the issue remains a top priority of the Court.

Chancellor Peoples served on the bench of Hamilton County’s Chancery Court for 32 years. Prior to that and early in his legal career, Chancellor Peoples became the first legal aid attorney in Chattanooga to be funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Chattanooga attorney Marcia “Marcy” Meredith Eason of the Miller & Martin law firm was the keynote speaker at Tuesday night’s induction ceremony. In addition to being a longtime friend to LAET, Ms. Eason currently serves as Chair of the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission.

Induction into the Chattanooga Pro Bono Hall of Fame acknowledges an attorney’s long-lasting commitment to pro bono representation, consistent support of LAET, and effective advocacy for equal access to justice for all Tennesseans. Since it was established in 2011, 16 Chattanooga-area attorneys have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

For additional information on the Chattanooga Pro Bono Hall of Fame, contact LAET’s Chattanooga Pro Bono Project Director Paige Evatt at (423) 402-4758.
Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s mission is to ensure justice for elderly, abused, and low-income people by providing a broad scope of civil legal assistance and advocacy. LAET serves eligible persons in 26 counties through offices in Chattanooga, Cleveland, Knoxville, Johnson City, Maryville, and Morristown.