2019 Recipient of the Justice Janie L. Shores Scholarship Named – July 19, 2019

The Justice Janie L. Shores scholarship is named in honor of the first female Alabama Supreme Court Justice, who was elected in 1974, retired in 1999, and died in 2017. Established by the Women’s Section of the Alabama State Bar along with the Alabama Law Foundation, the $6500 scholarship supports a female Alabama resident attending an Alabama law school. Elizabeth C. Smithart, chair of the Janie Shores scholarship committee, announces the 2019 recipient: “The Women’s Section of the Alabama State Bar established the Justice Janie L. Shores Scholarship to honor the first female justice to serve on the Alabama Supreme Court.  Her leadership and support of women in the law profession has had a profound and lasting impact on the female attorneys of this state.  Each year we have many outstanding applicants for this scholarship, and it is always a difficult choice. We are pleased to select Jennifer Townsend as this year’s recipient.  Jennifer’s unique experience as a social worker prior to attending law school will make her an outstanding attorney.  We look forward to the many great things she will continue to do and are honored to be able to encourage her in her endeavors.”

Jennifer Townsend is a graduate of Miles College with a Bachelor of Social Work and the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Master in Social Work. Jennifer is a rising second year student at the Cumberland School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Jennifer plans to work at a law firm and focus primarily on labor and employment cases.  Jennifer is also interested in criminal cases and teaching law. During the summer, Jennifer will be working with law firm Wiggins, /Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfarb.

            Jennifer was recognized at the Maude McLure Kelly Award Luncheon held Friday, July 19, 2019 during the Alabama State Bar Annual Meeting at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear. The luncheon is named in honor of Alabama’s first woman lawyer, who continued blazing pathways by  becoming the first woman lawyer in the United States to plead a case before the U.S Supreme Court. A silent auction, held the evening after the luncheon, raised money for the scholarship. Elizabeth C. Smithart states, “The Silent Auction conducted by the Women’s Section at the Alabama State Bar annual meeting enables the section to continue the funding of this scholarship.”