Lampley & Harbin Honored for Advocacy on Tennessee’s Indigent Defense Reform

Adams & Reese Partners Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin were recently recognized by their client, the Tennessee Bar Association, for their advocacy efforts in helping secure funding to establish a new system for indigent representation in Tennessee. Lampley and Harbin were among the recipients of the TBA’s President’s Award, presented at the TBA’s Annual Convention in June. The TBA is a longtime client of Adams & Reese’s government relations team.

Tennessee’s court-appointed attorneys, who represent indigent citizens statutorily and constitutionally entitled to legal counsel, have been the lowest paid in the country. That led to a dynamic where fewer attorneys could afford to take cases representing the indigent – thus creating a staffing crisis and leaving a juvenile and criminal justice system that judges have described as “teetering on the brink.”

To address the crisis, Tennessee’s Supreme Court and Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), with the help of stakeholders, unveiled a plan to help deliver representation to indigents. Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby described the plan as “a transformational step forward to safeguard the fair and impartial administration of justice in Tennessee.”

After unveiling the plan, the Supreme Court, AOC, TBA, and other groups embarked on a comprehensive advocacy effort to secure funding. Adams & Reese’s government relations team was deeply involved in that effort on behalf of the TBA. In the end, Governor Bill Lee proposed – and the General Assembly approved – a total appropriation of $17 million to help establish the new system. That appropriation included $13 million in recurring funds.

TBA President Ed Lanquist presented the awards at the TBA’s annual Lawyers Luncheon and President’s Awards ceremony on June 13, which served as the closing event of the 2025 TBA Convention. President’s Award recipients included Lampley, Harbin, TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright, AOC Executive Director Michelle Long, Joe Byrd, the lead attorney who oversees the AOC’s indigent services team, and others.

Representatives from the executive and judicial branch were also recognized for their efforts, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby, Brandon Gibson, Chief Operating Officer for the State of Tennessee, and Erin Merrick, Chief Counsel to Governor Lee.

The Chief Justice delivered remarks at the luncheon and said how impressed she was by the collaboration and proactive “all-in”-approach by the TBA legislative team, AOC, and the judicial branch, to secure the needed funding for the new indigent defense system.

“When we started to meet with stakeholders to educate people about the new indigent plan, our first advocate was the TBA. Michelle Long and I met with Ed Lanquist and Sheree Wright, and after listening to us, they said, ‘they’re all in to support the indigenous plan’,” said Kirby. “When they said they were ‘all in,’ that meant shouting it from the mountain tops. Brad Lampley and the team were meeting with folks about the indigent plan as much as we were, and Sheree and Michelle were on speed dial with one another. The indigent plan was blared daily from TBA’s daily newsletter, and lawyers were given talking points aimed at decision makers. … It was a force multiplier to help push the indigent plan over the dam and into the budget.”

Kirby added: “If nothing had been done, our system was in danger of collapse,” said Kirby. “TBA recognized the danger and empowered their people with us to save it.”

The new indigent defense reform structure establishes an Office of Indigent Conflicts and Civil Counsel overseen by an Indigent Representation Commission. The improved system will also attract and increase attorney participation through strategic compensation structures using retainers and contracts, enhance the quality of representation with training and mentorship, and improve efficiency and accountability through more collaboration across stakeholders.

This marks the second time that Lampley has received a President’s Award from the TBA.

About Our Attorneys

Lampley serves as the Adams & Reese Intersection of Business & Government (IBG) Practice Group Leader. Lampley formerly served as Partner in Charge of the Nashville office, a post he held for the better part of the last 12 years, and he also served as leader of the GR team. Lampley serves as legislative counsel to businesses and trade associations, such as the TBA, with interests before the Tennessee General Assembly and state government and represents businesses and organizations in a wide variety of practice areas, including legislative advocacy and public strategy, economic development, utilities and telecommunications, and aviation and aerospace.

Harbin is a Partner in the Adams & Reese Nashville office and a member of the IBG Practice. With a decade of legislative and public policy experience, Harbin navigates the intersection of law and government for businesses, organizations, and trade association clients. She guides clients through GR and advocacy efforts at the state level, including before the Tennessee General Assembly and Executive Branch. Before joining Adams & Reese, Harbin served as Policy Advisor and Legal Counsel to Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson.