Mercer Law Letter, Winter 1997

Three Law School Alums Honored by Georgia Supreme Court

Three Mercer alumni were honored for public service Oct. 1 by the Georgia Supreme Court during its visit to the Walter F. George School of Law. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on three cases at Mercer as part of its traveling high court session.

Following the session, Bibb Superior Court Judge Tommy Day Wilcox, Macon City Councilwoman Brenda Youmas and Carl E. Westmoreland received amicus curiae certificates as "friends of the court."

Youmas, 34, was elected to the Macon City Council in 1995. Among her numerous volunteer efforts are the Crisis Line, Boys and Girls Clubs, United Way, Project Read and the Macon Chamber of Commerce. She also has helped groom potential lawyers through the moot court competition.

Chief Justice Robert Benham told Youmas, "You set a fine example for young lawyers in the area of professionalism."

Westmoreland, 70, was honored for a career of providing free legal service to the poor. During his 46-year legal career, he has taken 500 such "pro bono" cases. That’s an average of one pro bono case per month.

"Mr. Westmoreland has been dedicated to delivering legal services to the poor," Benham said. "He is committed to giving back to the community, and he is passionate about giving legal services to all people in the community."

Wilcox, 55, was recognized for his work with several organizations in the fields of education, law, church and youth. A judge since 1981, he most recently has been in charge of Bibb County Special Drug Court.

Benham said of Wilcox, "He is a fine example, not only as a lawyer, but also as a judge."

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Honored by Supreme Court — Chief Justice Robert Benham, left, presented certificates to three Mercer alumni — Carl E. Westmoreland, Councilwoman Brenda Youmas and Bibb County Superior Court Judge Tommy Day Wilcox — when the Supreme Court heard cases at the Law School on Oct. 1

Law School Celebrates 125th Year

The first student enrolled in the Mercer Law School in 1874, making it one of the nation’s few century-old centers of legal education. This year, the Walter F. George School of Law celebrates 125 years since its formation by the Trustees of Mercer in 1873.

Several major events are being held this year to commemorate the 125th anniversary. Already this year, the Law School hosted a visit from the Right Honorable Lord Slynn of Hadley. Lord Slynn is a member of the British House of Lords and a judge of the High Court of Justice, comparable to a U.S. Supreme Court justice. His timely visit followed the death of Princess Diana and local media were interested in his familiarity with the royal family. Lord Slynn was honored with a reception at the Sidney Lanier Cottage and also spoke to two classes and met with faculty and staff.

Another major event in October was a session of the Georgia Supreme Court at Mercer. Included was a reception honoring the court and recognizing the Georgia Legal History Foundation and Institute of Southern Legal History, which is now housed at the Law School.

National attention was focused on Macon Oct. 27 when the annual Mercer Law Review symposium featured a slate of noted participants. Included on the program, which focused on the federal special counsel law, were former Attorney General Griffin B. Bell, former Iran Contra Special Counsel Lawrence Walsh, former Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox and former White House Counsel Lloyd Cutler.

Two other major events are scheduled during the academic year. On Jan. 21, 1998, Mercer University’s Founder’s Day will celebrate the founding of the Walter F. George School of Law. The annual Law Day Luncheon will be held March 14, 1998, and will feature Justice Antonin Scalia, associate justice of the United States Supreme Court.

[Cutline:] The Right Honorable Lord Slynn of Hadley, left, shares a laugh with Judge W.A. "Gus" Bootle and Law School Dean Larry Dessem.

Supreme Court Cases Heard Here Not Dead Issues

A case heard by the Georgia Supreme Court during its recent visit to Mercer proved to be more than a dead issue. Former Supreme Court Justice and Mercerian Hardy Gregory Jr. argued one of three cases on Oct. 1 heard by the state’s highest court at the "Moot" Courtroom of the Walter F. George School of Law.

The case, Moody v. Dykes, involved a dispute over adjacent family grave plots in a church graveyard.

Gregory, a Supreme Court justice himself during the 1980s, said the experience arguing the case at Mercer "was one of the best in my life. The Court was in a good mood with a somewhat informal setting. Then there were the awards presented by the Court to three local lawyers; that was gratifying. Chief Justice Robert Benham told the audience he wanted them to know the Supreme Court did not belong to the judges, the governor or the legislature, that it belonged to the people.

"I think that’s the best attitude a Court could possibly have. It is great to see judges acknowledge their status as instruments of the court, and not owners. Many have said that but few exemplify it the way this Court did," he said. "It was a wonderful lesson for all of us."

Hardy Gregory Jr., a Mercerian now practicing in Cordele, argues a case before the Georgia Supreme Court at the Walter F. George School of Law "Moot" Courtroom.

Mercer Law School Becoming Family Tradition

A sign of success in an endeavor might be noted by participants encouraging their families to join them. This certainly is the case at the Walter F. George School of Law. Alumni connections are abundant among this year’s incoming first-year students.

Take DeCara Brown. She is the daughter of the Hon. Carl C. Brown ’73, a Superior Court judge in Augusta. She is also the goddaughter of the Hon. Louis Sands ’74.

Thomas Hurt of Cordele is the father of Susan Hurt Sumner, who graduated this year. His brother, James Hurt ’67, practices in Cordele, and his cousin, Kice Stone ’68 practices in Macon. Thomas Hurt was originally admitted to begin law school at Mercer in 1969, but withdrew for family reasons before school began.

Cavanaugh Perry is the son of William S. Perry ’68, a banker in Nashville, Ga. His cousin, Tom Thomas ’94, is the son of Tom Sr. ’66, and they both practice in Adel. Cavanaugh’s brother, Justin, is starting his third year of law school at Mercer.

Rick Sizemore is the son of Macon attorney Lamar Sizemore ’74 and the grandson of Lamar W. Sizemore Sr. ’48.

- John Dalton’s sister, Susan Dalton Raymond ’91, and sister-in-law, Ellen Stewart Golden ’89, are graduates. Golden practices in Homerville and Raymond in Macon.

- Rebecca Haggard is the daughter of Andy Haggard ’67 of Coral Gables, Fla.

- Stebin Horne is the son of Macon attorney Frank Horne ’71. His cousin, Carl Reynolds ’66, also practices in Macon and another cousin, Mimi Ford ’95, is a professor at Georgia Southwestern in Americus.

- Elizabeth Mercer is the daughter of Walter George Mercer Jr. ’71 of Dawson.

- Amy Miller has two cousins who are graduates — Shawn Story ’93 of McDonough and Richard Greene ’74 of Marietta.

- Jarrell Palmer is the cousin of Kathleen O’Neal, former director of admissions at the law school. She is also related to O’Neal’s mother, Beth Duncan ’88, who practices in Brunswick.

No, the law school does not plan a 1990s television sequel for All In The Family, but something this good is certainly worth sharing with loved ones.