Join Us Oct. 15 to Hear Roy Barnes, Our Luncheon Speaker

Please note on your calendar and RSVP now for the next Bar luncheon on Oct. 15 when we welcome former governor Roy Barnes as our guest speaker.

Described as a “lawyer’s lawyer” and recognized by the American College of Trial Lawyers as one of the top trial attorneys in the nation, Roy E. Barnes knew from a young age what profession he wanted to pursue. His love of law and his commitment to serving others have never wavered.

A lifelong resident of Cobb County, Georgia, Roy Barnes received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and graduated with honors from the Lumpkin School of Law at UGA in 1972. Upon graduation, he went to work as a prosecutor in the Cobb County District Attorney’s office, where he stayed until opening his first law firm in 1975.

For more than 30 years, Gov. Barnes has tried civil and criminal cases throughout Georgia and in neighboring states including a successful class action lawsuit against Fleet Finance that received national recognition in the early 1990s. His practice has concentrated primarily on civil litigation, where he has developed an expertise in consumer class action cases, medical malpractice matters, products liability law, general tort matters and commercial litigation. Gov. Barnes has appeared in more than 250 cases in the state and federal appellate courts.

Gov. Barnes has been a public servant nearly as long as he has been a lawyer. At age 26, he was elected the youngest member of the Georgia State Senate. He went on to serve a total of eight terms and was a member of the Appropriations, Rules and Transportation committees. In addition, he was chairman of the Select Committee on Constitutional Revision, which rewrote the state’s constitution as well as chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee. He also served as a floor leader to Governor Joe Frank Harris from 1983 to 1989. After an unsuccessful bid for the governor’s office in 1990, he was elected to the State House of Representatives, where he served for six years and was vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee and chair of the Subcommittee on General Law.

In 1998, Barnes was elected to serve as the 80th governor of the State of Georgia. During his term, he concentrated on education reform, health care reform, and remedies for urban growth and sprawl. He created the Georgia Cancer Coalition and served as chair of the Southern Regional Education Board, the Southern Governor’s Association, and the Education Commission of the States. He was defeated for reelection in large part because of his efforts to change the Georgia flag, a political decision for which he was honored with the 2003 John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Profile in Courage Award.

From the day he was elected governor, Roy Barnes knew he would return to the practice of law, which he has done through the establishment of The Barnes Law Group.

 

Honors and Recognition

The honors and awards Gov. Barnes has received include, among others:

Lawyer rankings
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™, 2008-2011
Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite, 2007-2009

Awards
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, 2003
Georgia Trend Georgian of the Year Award, 2002
National Commission Against Drunk Driving Award, 2002
Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity Leadership Award, 2001
Georgia Association of Broadcasters Georgian of the Year Award, 2001
Georgia Council on Aging Award, 2001
Mothers Against Drunk Driving Distinguished Service Award, 2001
Georgia Mental Health Coalition on Managed Care Leadership Award, 2000
Mercer University honorary Doctor of Laws degree, 2000
University of Georgia School of Law Distinguished Service Scroll Award, 1999
Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Distinguished Service Award, 1982

 

Remember to RSVP

Be sure to RSVP by Monday, Oct. 12, for our monthly luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the historic Old Courthouse on the square, 101 E. Court Square in downtown Decatur. RSVP now by clicking here to register.

Here is what Sawicki’s has planned for the menu:

  • Chicken cacciatore
  • Ratatouille pasta
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Veggie medley of broccoli and cauliflower
  • Mixed green salad
  • Fruit salad
  • Chicken salad wrap
  • Pimiento cheese and ham wrap
  • Dessert
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