NASHVILLE, June 26, 2007. Lance Bracy, former chief disciplinary counsel at the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, was awarded the Justice Frank F. Drowota III Award for Outstanding Judicial Service during the Tennessee Bar Association's annual convention in Nashville.
Named for former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank F. Drowota, the award recognizes a judge or judicial branch official of a federal, state or local court in Tennessee who demonstrates extraordinary devotion and dedication to the improvement of the law, the legal system and the administration of justice. Bracy is the second recipient. Last year, Justice Drowota received the inaugural award.
Bracy was chosen in recognition of his many years of service at the Board of Professional Responsibility, a body he joined when it was created by the Supreme Court in 1976. The board, an arm of the court, investigates
complaints against attorneys and disciplines those who violate professional rules. During his tenure with the board, Bracy directed the publication of more than 740 ethics opinions, responded to more than 12,000 ethics
inquiries by attorneys and oversaw the resolution of more than 36,000 citizen complaints. Bracy retired on May 1 after serving 31 years.
In presenting the award, outgoing TBA President Larry D. Wilks paid homage to Bracy's unique ability to balance toughness with fairness, saying, "To those who were guilty he was their worst nightmare. To those who were
innocent, they had no better advocate."
The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is the largest professional association in Tennessee with more than 9,000 members. Founded in 1881, the TBA provides opportunities for continuing legal education, professional development and public service. The TBA's dedication to serving the state's legal community is evidenced by its membership roll, which represents the entire spectrum of legal practice: plaintiff and defense lawyers, corporate counsel, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, government lawyers and legal services attorneys.