Third-year student Courtney Howard has been awarded the Justice Janie L. Shores Scholarship. The scholarship is named in honor of former Cumberland School of Law professor and the first female Alabama Supreme Court Justice, Janie Shores, 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 $7000 scholarship supports a female Alabama resident attending an Alabama law school.
Courtney explains, “It is a great honor to receive this year’s Janie L. Shores Scholarship. I am excited to continue blazing trails like Justice Shores and sharing my experiences with other law students who are interested in obtaining careers and creating more opportunities for women who can excel as transactional lawyers.”
Elizabeth C. Smithart, chair of the scholarship committee, said in the official announcement, “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 Courtney Howard as this year's recipient. Courtney's experience in the business world 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.”
