Norman S. Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Norman S. Fletcher is an American
lawyer and jurist from the state of Georgia
. He served on the Supreme Court of Georgia for over 15 years and was the Chief Justice
of that body from 2001 through 2005.
, to Frank Pickett Fletcher and Hattie Sears Fletcher. He attended the University of Georgia
where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
and the Order of the Greek Horsemen
, earning an A.B.
degree in 1956 and then attended the University of Georgia School of Law
earning an LL.B. in 1958. He later earned an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law
in 1995.
As a high school student in Fitzgerald, Fletcher became interested in law from two local attorneys, Carlyle McDonald (the mayor of the town and a trial lawyer) and Harvey Jay, a district attorney. After watching McDonald and Jay oppose each other in criminal trials, Fletcher decided to become an attorney.
. He then moved to LaFayette, Georgia
, in 1963 and formed a law firm with Irwin W. Stolz, Jr. and George P. Shaw. Fletcher also served as the Lafayette city attorney from 1965 through 1989 and the Walker County, Georgia
attorney from 1973 through 1988. From 1979 through 1989, he also was a special assistant attorney general for the state of Georgia.
Fletcher also served in numerous other positions while maintaining his private practice including board member of the Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund from 1971 through 1975, president of the Lookout Mountain Bar Association from 1973 to 1974, president of the University of Georgia Law School Association in 1977, chair of Local Government Section of the
State Bar of Georgia from 1977 to 1978), president of the City Attorney’s Section of the Georgia Municipal Association from 1978 to 1979, a member of the State Disciplinary Board from 1984 to 1987, chair of the Investigative Panel from 1986 to 1987, board member of LaFayette Chamber of Commerce and president of the LaFayette Rotary Club.
In 1989, Fletcher was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia by Governor Joe Frank Harris
. He was the Chief Justice of the Court from 2001 until 2005. Fletcher retired from the Court in 2006. He is a fellow of both the American Bar and the Georgia Bar Foundations and is a master in the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and jurist from the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He served on the Supreme Court of Georgia for over 15 years and was the Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of that body from 2001 through 2005.
Early life and education
Fletcher was born in Fitzgerald, GeorgiaFitzgerald, Georgia
Fitzgerald is a city in Ben Hill in the U.S. state of Georgia, and is the county seat of Ben Hill County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,053...
, to Frank Pickett Fletcher and Hattie Sears Fletcher. He attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
Phi Kappa Literary Society
The Phi Kappa Literary Society is a college literary society, located at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.The Society was founded in 1820 by Joseph Henry Lumpkin, later to become the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and eponym for the , and by William Crabbe, Edwin...
and the Order of the Greek Horsemen
Order of the Greek Horsemen
Order of the Greek Horsemen is a secret society at the University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia. Founded in 1955, the organization annually inducts five new members from among the male leaders of the Greek system at the University of Georgia...
, earning an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1956 and then attended the University of Georgia School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
earning an LL.B. in 1958. He later earned an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
in 1995.
As a high school student in Fitzgerald, Fletcher became interested in law from two local attorneys, Carlyle McDonald (the mayor of the town and a trial lawyer) and Harvey Jay, a district attorney. After watching McDonald and Jay oppose each other in criminal trials, Fletcher decided to become an attorney.
Professional career
After graduating from law school in 1958, Fletcher joined the law firm of Mathews, Maddox, Walton and Smith in Rome, GeorgiaRome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
. He then moved to LaFayette, Georgia
LaFayette, Georgia
LaFayette is a city in Walker County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the city population was 6,702. The city is the county seat of Walker County.LaFayette is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, in 1963 and formed a law firm with Irwin W. Stolz, Jr. and George P. Shaw. Fletcher also served as the Lafayette city attorney from 1965 through 1989 and the Walker County, Georgia
Walker County, Georgia
Walker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 18, 1833 from land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indian Nation. As of 2000, the population was 61,053. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 64,554...
attorney from 1973 through 1988. From 1979 through 1989, he also was a special assistant attorney general for the state of Georgia.
Fletcher also served in numerous other positions while maintaining his private practice including board member of the Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund from 1971 through 1975, president of the Lookout Mountain Bar Association from 1973 to 1974, president of the University of Georgia Law School Association in 1977, chair of Local Government Section of the
State Bar of Georgia from 1977 to 1978), president of the City Attorney’s Section of the Georgia Municipal Association from 1978 to 1979, a member of the State Disciplinary Board from 1984 to 1987, chair of the Investigative Panel from 1986 to 1987, board member of LaFayette Chamber of Commerce and president of the LaFayette Rotary Club.
In 1989, Fletcher was appointed to the Supreme Court of Georgia by Governor Joe Frank Harris
Joe Frank Harris
Joe Frank Harris is an American conservative Democratic politician who served as the 78th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1983 to 1991....
. He was the Chief Justice of the Court from 2001 until 2005. Fletcher retired from the Court in 2006. He is a fellow of both the American Bar and the Georgia Bar Foundations and is a master in the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court.
Source
- Biography on old Supreme Court of Georgia website (accessed December 7, 2006)