Constitution Day 2009
Area high school students commemorated Constitution Day 2009 by participating in the U.S. District Court’s third annual celebration of the establishment of the Constitution of the United States. The Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association sponsored the event. Chief United States District Judge Curtis L. Collier provided the students with a historical perspective on the Constitution, which included a skit written by the judge and performed by students. Magistrate Judge William Carter brought the Bill of Rights to life with stories of his own experiences as a criminal defense attorney and as a judge. Magistrate Judge Susan Lee entertained and educated with a Constitutional Law Trivia Game, and United States District Judge Harry S. Mattice answered students’ questions, encouraged them to read the country’s founding documents, and sent them off to get cookies and pocket Constitution for the bus ride back to school.
Students perform a Constitution Day skit for fellow-students from Central High, Hixson High, and Red Bank High. 
Judge Carter expounds on the Bill of Rights with the assistance of FBA Board Member Kathy Gardner, while Chief Judge Collier looks on. 
Judge Lee and Board Member Stephanie Barnes keep the trivia game moving. 
Judge Mattice encourages the students to get to know the country’s founding documents.
Annual Meeting 2009
The Chattanooga Chapter held its annual meeting January 28, 2009 at the Chattanoogan Hotel. The Honorable William M. Barker, Retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tennessee spoke on “Professionalism and Giving Back to the Community.”
Special guests were the Hon. Curtis L. Collier, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Hon. Harry S. Mattice, Jr., United States District Judge, the Hon. John C. Cook, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the Hon. William B. Mitchell Carter, U.S. Magistrate Judge, and the Hon. Susan K. Lee, U.S. Magistrate Judge.
Out-going President Rita LaLumia (Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee) presented the 2008 “WOW” Awards to attorneys David Higney (Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison), Donna Mikel (Burnette, Dobson & Pinchak), and Maury Nicely (Miller & Martin, PLLC) for their assistance in fulfilling the Chapter’s mission “to strengthen the federal legal system and administration of justice by serving the interests and needs of the federal practitioner, both public and private, the federal judiciary and the public they serve.” Past President Shelley Rucker (Miller & Martin, PLLC) presented Barry Cammon (Advanced Video Solutions) with the 2008 “Best Supporting Actor” Award for his generous contribution of time, talent, and wisdom to the Chapter in producing the documentary, “Balancing the Scales: The Chattanooga Trial of
U.S. v. James R. Hoffa.” In-coming President Leslie Cory (Ortwein & Cory, LLC) presented the 2008 “Above and Beyond” Awards to Angela Gibson and Sharon Lehmkuhl for their outstanding assistance to the Chapter in presenting its programs.
