Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Mark Fishburn received the Jack Norman, Sr. Award at the annual Nashville Bar Association (NBA) Law Day Luncheon.
Judge Fishburn is only the fourth judge to be recognized since the creation of Jack Norman, Sr. award in 1996. It is the highest honor awarded by the NBA, specifically in the field of criminal law and justice.
“To be recognized by my esteemed brothers and sisters of the Nashville Bar Association as the recipient of the Jack Norman, Sr. Award is the highlight of my professional career,” said Judge Fishburn. “I am honored and humbled to be the recipient and will always strive to show my appreciation through the work I will continue to do and the contributions I endeavor to make.”
According to the NBA web site, the Jack Norman Sr. Award is given to a criminal law practitioner – including, specifically, defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, and judges of courts with criminal jurisdiction – who practice before or serve as judges of courts exercising criminal jurisdiction in the Metropolitan Nashville area. The award may be given posthumously and is not necessarily presented every year, but only when a deserving individual is recognized.
The Norman Award must be given to an attorney/judge whose primary practice or service pertains to criminal law, demonstrates respect for the rights of all individuals in the criminal justice system, exhibits the trial advocacy skills or judicial skill necessary to the pursuit of justice, demonstrates abiding respect for the law and legal profession, maintains highest standards of professional integrity and ethical conduct, and contributes to the improvement of the legal profession and the criminal justice system – including but not limited to the provision of uncompensated or under-compensated representation of the accused.
Past recipients include such notables as John Hooker, Sr., Judge Tom Shriver, James Neal, Joe Binkley Sr., William Leech, Jr., Judge Randall Wyatt, and Hal Hardin, among others.
