Attorney

Norman S. Fletcher

On December 28, 1989, Norman S. Fletcher was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia. He served on that court until his retirement on June 30, 2005. Norman spent his last four years on the court as Chief Justice.

In 2005, following his retirement, Justice Fletcher joined Brinson Askew Berry as Of Counsel, bringing with him his 47 years of experience as a trial lawyer, counselor, city attorney, Floyd county attorney, and general practitioner. Norman began his law practice in 1958 as an associate in the law firm of Matthews, Maddox, Walton and Smith, Rome, Georgia. In 1963, he moved to LaFayette to form a partnership with the late George P. Shaw and Irwin W. Stolz, Jr. While in private practice, he represented the State of Georgia as a Special Assistant Attorney General and he also served as City Attorney for the City of LaFayette and County Attorney for Walker County. He continued his general practice of law in LaFayette until his appointment to the Supreme Court.

Justice Fletcher has a distinguished record of service to the legal profession and the community. He served as a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Georgia School of Law (1989-95), and was its Chairman (1994-95). He is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Georgia Bar Foundation and is a Master in the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court. In 1989, he served as co-chair of the State Bar's commission on lawyer disciplinary reform. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court he served as a member of the State Disciplinary Board (1984-1987), chair of the Investigative Panel (1986-87), chair of Local Government Section of State Bar (1977-78), President of City Attorney's Section of Georgia Municipal Association (1978-79), board member of Attorney's Title Guaranty Fund (1971-75), President of Lookout Mountain Bar Association (1973-74), and President of the University of Georgia Law School Association (1977). While residing in LaFayette, Norman served three terms on the board of the LaFayette Chamber of Commerce and as the former president of the LaFayette Rotary Club.

Norman, while living in Atlanta, was a member of Peachtree Presbyterian Church where he served as a Ruling Elder. He has served as an officer in the First Presbyterian Church of Rome, LaFayette Presbyterian Church and Cherokee Presbytery and as a commissioner to the Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly in 1984 and 1985. Justice Fletcher, the son of the late Frank Pickett Fletcher and Hattie Sears Fletcher. His brother is Frank P. Fletcher, Jr. of Columbia, South Carolina. Norman married the former Dorothy Johnson of Fitzgerald in 1957. They have two daughters and five grandchildren.

Justice Fletcher is also an Eagle Scout.

Education

University of Virginia, LL.M, 1995
University of Georgia; B.A., 1956; LL.B, 1958

Bar and Court Admissions

United States Supreme Court
United States Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits
United States District Court, Northern Distric of Georgia
Admitted to all Courts in Georgia
Admitted to Bar in Georgia 1958

Professional Affiliations

Atlanta Bar Association
American Bar Association
State Bar of Georgia
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Fellow, Georgia Bar Foundation
Master, Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court
Lawyers Club of Atlanta
The Advocates, Ltd.
Old Warhorse Lawyers Club

Honors and Awards

The Harold G. Clarke Award by the Georgia Indigent Defense Counsel "in recognition of his long-term commitment and dedication to the cause of insuring equal justice for all of Georgia's citizens." 1999
The Phoenix Committee/Gridiron Secret Society's The Phoenix Award "for a lifetime of labor toward the rebirth of society." Fall 2000
Blue Key Service Award. November 2002
The Atlanta Bar Association's Leadership Award "for inspiring by his example, challenging by his deeds, reminding us all of our debt to our profession and our community. December 2002
The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia's Excellence in Government Award "in recognition of outstanding public service by a former city official." April 2003
The Atlanta Bar Association's Judicial Section - The Honorable Romae Turner Powell Judicial Service Award. June 2003
The National Center for State Court's Harry L. Carrico Award "for judicial innovation." January 2004. Chief Justice Fletcher was the first recipient of this Award.
The Emory Public Interest Committee's Epic Inspiration Award "for outstanding leadership in the public interest." February 2004
The State Bar of Georgia's General Practice and Trial Section - The Tradition of Excellence Award. June 2004
The Blue Key Award "in appreciation for exemplary public service and support of UGA Blue Key." February 2005
The Georgia First Amendment Foundation's Charles L. Weltner Freedom of Information Award for "preserving the public's right to know." March 2005
The Athens Justice Project Award. May 2005
The Atlanta Bar Association's Litigation Section - The Logan E. Bleckley Award "for providing extraordinary leadership and service to the Bar." May 2005
The Norman S. Fletcher Professionalism Award - The Lookout Mountain Bar Association honors a recipient yearly with this Award which began in 2004.
University of Georgia School of Law Equal Justice foundation Award for Outstanding Public Interest Attorney - 2005.
Georgia Excellence in Public Service Award - State/Regional Official. September 2005.
Eagle Scout

Community Involvement

President, City Attorney Section, Georgia Municipal Association, 1978-1979.
Chair, Local Government Section of State Bar, 1977-1978.
University of Georgia, School of Law, President, Law School Association, 1977.
Board of Visitors, 1992-1995; Chair, 1994-1995.
University of Georgia, College of Public and International Affairs, Board of Visitors, 2004-Present
University of Georgia Arch Foundation, Chairman of the Board, 2008-Present