Alabama Trial Lawyers Association 770 Washington Avenue – Suite 170 – Montgomery, Alabama 36104

ATLA Elects New Slate of Officers During Organization’s 50th Year

Attention: Media Outlets
For Immediate Release

Monday, June 23, 2003

Contact: Steve Prince
(334) 220-5555

Montgomery – Birmingham attorney David Marsh took the helm this month as President of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, heading the association in its 50th year of existence.

ATLA’s new slate of officers include President David Marsh of Birmingham, President-Elect Thomas Edwards of Wetumpka, First Vice President Scott Powell of Birmingham, Second Vice President Ralph Cook of Birmingham, Secretary Robert Prince of Tuscaloosa, Treasurer Gibson Vance of Montgomery, and Immediate Past President Ken Hooks of Birmingham.

“Each of our officers represents the values that this organization has believed in for more than half a century,” said Ginger Avery, ATLA executive director. “They are committed to our civil justice system and this association’s efforts to preserve access to that system for everyone.” The new officers assumed their new posts during the Association’s Annual Conference at Sandestin Beach Resort earlier this month. They serve one-year terms.

Marsh, 46, started his term as the association’s president this month. He is founder of the firm Marsh, Rickard & Bryan, in Birmingham. Marsh has handled cases in every county in Alabama, as well as appeared before the Alabama Supreme Court, the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Marsh is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, The International Society of Barristers and The International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Edwards, 46, will serve as the association’s president next June. He practices law in Wetumpka with his wife Regina in the law firm of Edwards and Edwards. He received his law degree from Jones School of Law and subsequently received a Master of Divinity Degree from the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He is a past president of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce. Powell, 49, is a partner in the firm of Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton in Birmingham. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and secretary-treasurer of the International Society of Barristers.

Ralph D. Cook, 59, is with the firm of Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton in Birmingham. He received his undergraduate degree from Tennessee State in Nashville and his law degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C. He has served as a Jefferson County family court, district court, and circuit court judge. He served as an associate justice on the Alabama Supreme Court from 1993-2000.

Prince, 54, is a partner in the Prince•Patterson Law Firm In addition to maintaining his active personal injury litigation practice, he serves as adjunct professor of law at The University of Alabama where he is an instructor in Trial Advocacy. Prince is past president of the Tuscaloosa Trial Lawyers Association. He has served on the Board of VOICES for Alabama’s Children, one of the state’s leading child advocacy organizations.

Gibson Vance, 39, is a member of the firm of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis and Miles in Montgomery. A graduate of Jones Law School in Montgomery, Vance helped form the school’s Future Trial Lawyer Association and served as president of the school’s student bar association. He served as president of the Montgomery County Trial Lawyers Association in 2002 and is currently secretary-treasurer of the Montgomery County Bar Association.

Hooks, 50, ended his term as president this month. He is a law partner in the Birmingham firm of Pittman, Hooks, Dutton, Kirby & Hellums He received his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Alabama. He has practiced law for about 25 years and been a frequent lecturer to both state and national audiences on civil litigation.

The Alabama Trial Lawyers Association represents about 1,500 attorneys statewide. Founded in 1953, ATLA seeks to preserve right to trial by jury, protect consumers, promote professionalism among the trial bar, and safeguard access to and fairness of the justice system so that the rights and remedies of all individuals are protected.