Legal Run Around to assist the children of injured and fallen police officers with scholarship money for their children. Today, the race is held annually as close as possible to the anniversary of 9.11.2001. This coming year is the 25th anniversary of the tragic attack on our Country and the Legal Run Around is expected to be the biggest and best, ever.
If you practice law in Georgia or if you have been on the wrong side of a case, you probably know of Emmet J. Bondurant. Otherwise, maybe not. Mr. Bondurant is the model southern gentleman lawyer. For more than fifty years, Mr. Bondurant has been doing the amazing as a lawyer. If that was all he did, it would be enough. But Mr. Bondurant has done so much more. A few of many highlights follow.
Mr. Bondurant argued Wesberry v. Sanders, in which case the United States Supreme Court held that congressional districts throughout the US must contain equal populations. That holding is known as the“ oneperson-one vote rule.” Mr. Bondurant argued the Fortson v. Morris case. The US Supreme Court upheld a provision of the Georgia constitution and thus confirmed the outcome of gubernatorial runoff election. Mr. Bondurant also argued Rucho v. Common Cause, where he urged an end to partisan gerrymandering by state legislatures.
In Hishon v. King & Spalding, Mr. Bondurant took on one of the largest law firms in Atlanta. In that case, the US Supreme Court held that law firms are bound by Title VII, and that they could not discriminate against women in partnership decisions.
Mr. Bondurant has been recognized and honored many times, including, but not limited to, Chambers USA, the American Bar Association, Gideon’ s Promise, the Anti-Defamation League, Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Bondurant has been recognized not only for his superior legal talent, but also for his many humanitarian accomplishments.
Governor Carl Edward Sanders graduated from the University of Georgia. Governor Sanders served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Governor Sanders served 2 years in the House of Representatives, and 6 years in the Georgia Senate. Governor Sanders was our Georgia Governor from 1962 to 1967. During his tenure, Governor Sanders reorganized the Department of Education, he added 10,000 new public-school teachers, he raised teachers’ salaries, and he created the Governor’ s Honors Program. Governor Sanders was successful in defusing racial tensions, and he kept Georgia out of much of the racial violence that erupted elsewhere in the South.
No list of Georgia Lawyer heroes would be complete without mentioning Paula Frederick. Ms. Frederick graduated from Duke University in 1979. In 1982, Ms.
IN THE PROFESSION
Frederick received her law degree from Vanderbilt University. After law school, Ms. Frederick worked at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society for six years. Ms. Frederick spent the next 36 years at the State Bar of Georgia. In 2009, Ms. Frederick became the General Counsel for the State Bar. Ms. Frederick has authored over 100 ethics articles for the Georgia Bar Journal.
Ms. Frederick was the first African American president of the Atlanta Bar Association. While Ms. Frederick was President the Atlanta Bar Association membership reached 6000, making it the largest volunteer bar association in the southeast. In 1998, Ms. Frederick was president of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys.
Ms. Frederick has also devoted much time and experience to the American Bar Association. Ms. Frederick sits on the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.
This list only scratches the surface of all that Ms. Frederick has accomplished.
Notice the common thread in the lawyers mentioned, above. They are not just amazing lawyers. Each hero also did so much more. To me, heroes are often people who do more. They have energy. They have enthusiasm. They enjoy their work. In particular, hero lawyers are almost always exceptional in multidimensional ways.
Writing this article made me think of one of my favorite poems. Maybe you, too will enjoy it. Be honest and true, boys! Whatever you do, boys. Let this be your motto through life. Both now and forever, be this your endeavor, when wrong with the right is at strife. The best and the truest, alas are the fewest; but be one of these if you can. In duty ne’ er fail; you will find‘ twill avail you, and bring its reward when a man. Don’ t think life plain sailing; there’ s danger of failing, though bright seem the future to be; but honor and labor, and truth to your neighbor, will bear you safe over life’ s sea. Then up and be doing, right only pursuing, and take your fair part in the strife. Be honest and true, boys! Whatever you do boys. Let this be your motto through life.
By George Birdseye
LOUIS R. COHAN Cohan & Levy lcohan @ cohanlevy. com
www. atlantabar. org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 15