(October 2010) S. Lester Tate, III, was appointed by the State Bar of Georgia to serve a four-year term on the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC).

The JQC was created by Constitutional Amendment in 1972 to conduct investigations and hearings with respect to complaints of ethical misconduct by Georgia judges and is also authorized to issue Advisory Opinions regarding appropriate judicial conduct. The Commission operates under rules established by the Supreme Court.

The Commission is composed of: two judges selected by the Supreme Court of Georgia; three lawyers, each with at least 10 years experience, appointed by the State Bar of Georgia; and two citizens, neither of whom shall be members of the State Bar, appointed by the Governor.

S. Lester Tate, III was installed as the 48th President of the State Bar of Georgia during the Annual Meeting Inaugural Gala on Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Amelia Island Plantation, Fla. Tate assumes leadership of the 41,000 member State Bar over a century after John W. Akin, a founding firm partner, held the same office.

A shareholder in Akin & Tate, P.C., Tate is widely recognized as one of the state's top trial lawyers. In 2007, Georgia Trend Magazine named him to its list of "Georgia's Legal Elite" and Atlanta Magazine has repeatedly named him as one of Georgia's "Super Lawyers."

Great Lawyer, Dedicated Citizen, Wonderful Father and Friend

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Akin & Tate, P.C. mourns the passing of Warren Akin, who died August 10, 2009. As his law partner, Lester Tate, eulogized, "Those above are not just the words of the prophet Micah, but the 96 year example set by my friend, Mr. Warren Akin. He was truly a man who did justice, loved kindness and walked humbly with God. He was a real life Atticus Finch, who exemplified everything good and decent about small town lawyers."

Born May 12, 1913, in Cartersville, Mr. Akin attended Mercer University as well as the University of Georgia, from which he graduated in 1935 with both his undergraduate and law degrees.

He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1935 and began practicing law in Cartersville with his father, Paul Francis Akin, continuing a legacy of family practice established in 1836 by Warren Akin I and continued by Warren Akin I's sons, Thomas Warren Akin, John Wesley Akin and Paul Francis Akin. That legacy continues today with Mr. Akin's son and granddaughter, Morgan Akin and Peggy Akin St. Philip, who are both local attorneys with Akin & Tate, P.C.

Until his early 90s, Mr. Akin was in the office every day, keeping current on the law and advising his son and other attorneys in the office. "When the Akins and I merged our law practices in 1996, people frequently asked me if Mr. Akin still practiced law," shares Lester Tate. "My standard, and quite truthful answer, was: No, Mr. Akin just tells us how to practice law."

Warren Akin enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private in 1943, and did not disclose he was a lawyer, fearing he would be sent to the JAG corps and not see any action. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after attaining the rank of major. He served his country in the North African and European theaters.

He was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church and also active in the community, serving on the Hospital Authority of Bartow County and becoming a district governor of Rotary International. He was one of the founders of Bartow County Bank in 1974, and served on its board of directors until 1983.

He served as solicitor general of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit, city attorney, alderman of the city council, and was a member of the American Legion for more than 50 years. In 1994, he received the Tradition of Excellence Award from the State Bar of Georgia, one of the highest awards given by the state's legal community. He also represented the Cherokee Judicial Circuit on the State Bar's Board of Governors on several occasions, beginning in 1964 when the State Bar of Georgia was first created.

"In short, if you're enjoying Cartersville or Bartow County or Georgia today," explained Lester Tate, "it is because of men and women like Warren Akin."

Mr. Akin was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Goodhart Akin, and his son, Warren Akin IV. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Morgan and Deborah Akin; their children and spouses, Thomas and Abigail Akin, Peggy and Andrew St. Philip, Will and Cindy Akin, Paige Miller, and Tara and Cope Rowell; several great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

S. Lester Tate III, of Akin & Tate, P.C., in Cartersville, Georgia, took office today as President-elect of the 40,000 member State Bar of Georgia during the organization's Annual Meeting at Amelia Island, Fla. He will become the 48th President of the State Bar in June 2010 – a century after John W. Akin, a founding firm partner, held the same office.

Tate, a seasoned trial attorney, served for the two prior years as Treasurer, overseeing the State Bar's $9 million budget and investments. Before becoming an officer, he served on the Board of Governors for 13 years representing the Cherokee Judicial Circuit. In 2005, Tate was elected to serve as one of six at-large members of the Executive Committee, which meets monthly and exercises the power of the Board of Governors when the Board is not in session.

Tate has long been a recognized leader in the legal profession. The Supreme Court of Georgia appointed him to the State Disciplinary Board's Investigative Panel, where he later served as Chairman, managing the prosecution of unethical attorneys. In addition, judges of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia elected Lester to the Federal Defender Board, where he also served as President. He also served as a Board member and eventual President of the General Practice &Trial Section, the State Bar's largest such specialty law section.

With more than 20 years of litigation and courtroom experience, Tate has protected the rights countless North Georgia citizens in a variety of matters ranging from personal injury claims to complex commercial disputes.

Atlanta magazine named Tate as one of the Georgia Super Lawyers. He was also named by Georgia Trend magazine among its Legal Elite in 2006, and has been AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 1996. He is a dedicated civil servant as well, having chaired the local United Way fundraising campaign and the Bartow County Democratic Party, among other posts.

Akin & Tate is pleased to announce it is serving as sponsor of the Official Statewide Scoreboard Show, broadcast by Cartersville's own NewsTalk AM 1270 - WYXC, a Fox News Radio affiliate. NewsTalk AM 1270 tracks the Georgia high school football season from the first kickoff on August 28 through the championships. It is the statewide authority for high school gridiron coverage

"Being either alumni or having kids at Woodland, Cass and Cartersville High Schools, our lawyers and staff love when the football rivalry begins," said partner Lester Tate. "That's why Akin & Tate is especially excited to support NewsTalk 1270's coverage of this southern tradition."

The Official Statewide Scoreboard Show is a two-hour post game program that features continuous score updates from around the local area and state, as well as commentary on games, players, coaches and more. NewsTalk AM 1270 is the official streaming site for this show statewide.

S. Lester Tate, III, of Akin & Tate, P.C., in Cartersville, Georgia, has been elected chair of the State Bar of Georgia's Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency (CCLC). Each year, in order to retain their licenses to practice law in our state, Georgia lawyers are required to earn a minimum number of continuing legal education credits. As explained in the State Bar Rules & Regulations, "It is of utmost importance to members of the Bar and to the public that attorneys maintain their professional competence throughout their active practice of law." The CCLC is charged with oversight of this important requirement for membership in the State Bar of Georgia.

S. Lester Tate, III, of Akin & Tate, P.C., in Cartersville, Georgia, was elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national association of distinguished trial lawyers. Membership is by invitation only. Prospective members must have served as lead counsel in a minimum of 20 civil jury trials in which a jury returned a verdict.

In congratulating Tate, ABOTA President John L. Holcomb explained, "Your election evidences your high personal character, honorable reputation, and proficiency as a trial lawyer."

The association was founded in 1957, when the jury system faced fierce attack by the press, legislators, judges and scholars. California's then-Governor even suggested a commission to hear workers' compensation, liability and other civil cases.

Still today, ABOTA seeks member attorneys who display skill, civility and integrity, not only to help younger attorneys achieve a higher level of trial advocacy, but also to educate the public about the vital importance of the Seventh Amendment. Thomas Jefferson opined that the right to trial by a jury of fellow citizens was a more important safeguard of personal liberty than the right to vote. With a jury, the rights and duties of each of us will be decided by our fellow citizens, not by some bureaucrat or governmental functionary. ABOTA agrees with Jefferson and is a leader in the fight to preserve and protect our right to a jury trial. ABOTA is dedicated to "Justice by the People."

S. Lester Tate, III, of Akin & Tate, P.C., in Cartersville, Georgia, was honored with the "Friends of the Frontier" Award given by New Frontier of Bartow County, Inc. during a ceremony at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Cartersville.

Tate was honored for his work on behalf of the underserved within the justice system. Tate is a local trial lawyer, who is known for championing the rights of those less fortunate. His commitment to preserving equal rights is the same foundation upon which New Frontier was built in 1962.

During the throes of civil rights struggle, New Frontier was established by nine dedicated men, whose primary concern was the fair and equitable treatment for African Americans in the Cartersville-Bartow County area. Today, the non-profit civic group's mission has evolved to serving as a voice for all citizens, regardless of race, in situations where equality is threatened.

New Frontier celebrates the idea of equality through service to its community. Annually their programs include feeding the hungry, hosting teen summits to promote good behavior and strong academics, and awarding scholarships to needy students.

Honored alongside Tate were State Rep. Paul Battles and Hon. Harry White, Municipal Court Judge.

S. Lester Tate, III, of Akin & Tate, P.C., in Cartersville, Georgia, has joined the Board of Directors of the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation (GCJF) . The GCJF is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Georgia citizens about our civil justice system. Founded in 1988 by concerned lawyers and lay persons, GCJF is supported by the Georgia Bar Foundation's Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Project and private contributions.