Awards and Achievements

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Section of the Year

The Family Law Section has been honored as the “Section of the Year” by the State Bar under the leadership of the following Chairpersons:

Ivory T Brown (2019 – 2020)
Scot Kraeuter (2018 – 2019)
Gary Graham (2017 – 2018)
Edward Coleman (2008 – 2009)
Shiel Edlin (2006 – 2007)
Stephen C. Steele (2005 – 2006)
Elizabeth Green Lindsey (2001 – 2002)
Nancy F. Lawler (1995-1996)

It first received this honor under Nancy F. Lawler. During Nancy’s tenure the section grew to be the second largest section among the Bar.

Section Achievement Award

The Family Law Section has been honored with the “Section Achievement Award” by the State Bar under the leadership of the following Chairpersons:

The Hon. Rebecca Crumrine Rieder (2014-2015)
Jonathan J. Tuggle (2013-2014)
Tina Shadix Roddenbery (2009-2010)

Judiciary

Several former chairs have also served as members of the judiciary.

Supreme Court of Georgia

Hon. G. Conley Ingram (1979-1980)

Superior Courts

Hon. Regina M. Quick (2015-2016) – Athens-Clark and Oconee County Superior Courts, Western Judicial Circuit

Hon. Rebecca Crumrine Reider (2014-2015) – Fulton County Superior Court, Atlanta Judicial Circuit

Hon. Martha C. Christian (1993-1994) – Bibb, Crawford, and Peach County Superior Courts, Macon Judicial Circuit*

Hon. Elizabeth Glazebrook (1989-1990) – Fannin, Gilmer, and Pickens County Superior and Juvenile Courts, Appalachian Judicial Circuit

Hon. John E. Girardeau (1984-1985) – Dawson and Hall County Superior Courts, Northeastern Judicial Circuit**

Hon. G. Conley Ingram (1979-1980) – Cobb County Superior Court, Cobb Judicial Circuit

*Hon. Elizabeth Glazebrook was the first female chair of the Section.
**Hon. John E. Girardeau is also considered the father of the Georgia Child Support Guidelines

Tuggle and Turner Awards

The Section bestows two primary awards upon its most deserving members to recognize outstanding achievement to the Section and to the Bar in general.

Joseph T. Tuggle, Jr. Professionalism Award

Annually, the Section awards the Joseph T. Tuggle Jr. Professionalism Award, established in 1995, to the Section member who, for the given year, has most exemplified the aspirational qualities of professionalism in their practice as a lawyer and/or a judge.  In 1999, in recognition of his decades of service to the Section and his unwavering and exceptional professionalism, known to all those who knew and practiced family law during his lifetime, the Section’s professionalism award was renamed to honor Joseph T. Tuggle, who strove to exemplify the ideals of professionalism every day in his thirty-five-year career.  It is only appropriate that Joe Tuggle’s unwavering commitment to professionalism is remembered when the Section gathers for its annual Institute by bestowing the award that now bears his name each and every year.

The following have been awarded the Joseph T. Tuggle Professionalism Award by the Section:

Leigh F. Cummings 2024
Hon. Rebecca Crumrine Rieder 2023
Dan Bloom 2022
Kelly Miles 2021
(None) 2020
Stephen C. Steele 2018
Hon. Jane C. Barwick 2017
Wendy Glasbrenner 2016
Tina Shadix Roddenbery 2015
Kice Stone 2014
Barry B. McGough 2013
Nancy F. Lawler 2012
John Lyndon 2011
Steven J. Harper 2010
Edward E. Bates, Jr. 2009
Carol Ann Walker 2008
Jill O. Radwin 2007
Deborah A. Johnson 2006
Hon. Carl W. Hunstein 2005
John C. Mayoue 2004
H. Martin Huddleston 2003
Hon. Louisa Abbott 2002
Hon. Mary E. Staley 2001
Hon. Cynthia D. Wright 2000
Joseph T. Tuggle, Jr. 1999
M.T. Simmons, Jr. 1998
Debra A. Segal 1997
Hon. Elizabeth R. Glazebrook 1996
Hon. Hilton M. Fuller, Jr. 1995

Jack P. Turner Award

The other primary award handed out by the Section, established in 1992, is the Jack P. Turner Award, which is only bestowed in years when it is determined that a Section member, over the course of his or her career as a lawyer or a judge, has risen to even higher standards in his or her practice.  The Turner Award represents the pinnacle of what all family lawyers should always strive to achieve: Service to the Section and to the Bar in general, an acceptance of that person to hold herself or himself to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism, and for his or her overall outstanding achievement to the broader area of family law in the State of Georgia and even beyond.

Robert G. Wellon 2024
Hon. Mark Anthony Scott 2023
Hon. LaTain Kell 2022
Edward E. Bates 2018
John C. Mayoue (posthumously) 2017
Hon. Bensonetta Tipton Lane 2013
George S. Stern 2012
H. Martin Huddleston 2008
Carl S. Pedigo 2007
Hon. Cynthia D. Wright 2006
Christopher D. Olmstead 2005
H. William Sams 2003
Hon. G. Conley Ingram 2002
Baxter L. Davis 2001
C. Wilbur Warner, Jr. 2000
Carl E. Westmoreland 1997
M.T. Simmons, Jr. 1994
Jack P. Turner 1987

Past Chairs of the Family Law Section

Jonathan V. Dunn Savannah 2024-2025
Karine P. Burney Atlanta 2023-2024
Ted Eittreim Atlanta 2022-2023
Leigh Cummings Atlanta 2021-2022
Kyla Lines Atlanta 2020-2021
ivory brown Atlanta 2019-2020
R. Scot Kraeuter Savannah 2018-2019
Gary P. Graham Atlanta 2017-2018
Marvin L. Solomiany Atlanta 2016-2017
Regina M. Quick Athens 2015-2016
Hon. Rebecca Crumrine Rieder Atlanta 2014-2015
Jonathan J. Tuggle Atlanta 2013-2014
Kelly Anne Miles Gainesville 2012-2013
Randall M. Kessler Atlanta 2011-2012
K. Paul Johnson Savannah 2010-2011
Tina Shadix Roddenbery Atlanta 2009-2010
Edward Coleman Augusta 2008-2009
Kurt Kegel Atlanta 2007-2008
Shiel Edlin Atlanta 2006-2007
Stephen C. Steele Marietta 2005-2006
Richard M. Nolen Atlanta 2004-2005
Thomas F. Allgood, Jr. Augusta 2003-2004
Emily S. Bair Atlanta 2002-2003
Elizabeth Green Lindsey Atlanta 2001-2002
Robert D. Boyd Atlanta 2000-2001
H. William Sams Augusta 1999-2000
Anne H. Jarrett Atlanta 1998-1999
Carl S. Pedigo, Jr. Savannah 1997-1998
Joseph T. Tuggle Dalton 1996-1997
Nancy F. Lawler Atlanta 1995-1996
Richard W. Schiffman, Jr. Atlanta 1994-1995
Hon. Martha C. Christian Macon 1993-1994
John C. Mayoue Atlanta 1992-1993
H. Martin Huddleston Decatur 1991-1992
Christopher D. Olmstead Atlanta 1990-1991
Hon. Elizabeth Glazebrook Jasper 1989-1990
Barry B. McGough Atlanta 1988-1989
Edward E. Bates, Jr. Atlanta 1987-1988
Carl Westmoreland Macon 1986-1987
Lawrence B. Custer Marietta 1985-1986
Hon. John E. Girardeau Gainesville 1984-1985
C. Wilbur Warner, Jr. Atlanta 1983-1984
M.T. Simmons, Jr. Decatur 1982-1983
Kice H. Stone Macon 1981-1982
Paul V. Kilpatrick, Jr. Columbus 1980-1981
Hon. G. Conley Ingram Atlanta 1979-1980
Bob Reinhardt Tifton 1978-1979
Jack P. Turner Atlanta 1977-1978