Law Foundation

 
Officers:

President: Doug Martinson, Jr.
Vice President:  Robert Sellers Smith
Treasurer:  Cindy Seeley
Secretary:  Gina Marlowe

History of Huntsville-Madison County Law Foundation, Inc.

The Huntsville-Madison County Law Foundation, Inc., was incorporated on September 17, 1987, the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution. The Law Foundation has operated continuously since its incorporation in 1987. The foundation was originally created as a permanent successor to the Continuing Sponsor’s Fund. The Huntsville Bar Association had maintained that fund for several years to financially support the Elbert H. Parsons Public Law Library and the Elbert H. Parsons Law Library Building.

The purpose of the foundation is to provide additional financial support for the Public Law Library of Madison County. As funding permits, we also aim to improve and promote the administration of justice in Madison County in supplementary ways not available through the use of public funds.

Trustees:

The business and affairs of the foundation are managed by the Board of Trustees of the Law Foundation. Three trustees are chosen directly by the Executive Committee of the Huntsville Bar Association for such terms as the Executive Committee shall designate. The original trustees were John David Snodgrass, Douglas C. Martinson, and Robert Sellers Smith.

During their terms of office, the following also serve as trustees:

• Presiding Circuit Judge of the Madison County Circuit Court.
  
• President of the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association.
  
• Chairman of the Law Library Committee, when not already a trustee.
  
• Vice-Chairman of the Law Library Committee, when not already a trustee.
  
• Law Librarian of the Elbert H. Parsons Public Law Library.
  
• Executive Director of the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association.
  
• The Madison County Attorney.
  
• Huntsville City Attorney.
  
• Madison City Attorney.

The Board of Trustees of the Law Foundation is authorized to select no more than four trustees of the Law Foundation, each of whom shall serve for a term of three years, and who shall serve in addition to the foregoing trustees.

The officers of the Board of Trustees are a chairman, a vice Chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer, each of whom are elected by the Board of Trustees.

The Trial Tax Funding for the Elbert H. Parsons Public Law Library was increased by an act of the Alabama Legislature in 1991. Senator Jim Smith and Representative George Grayson provided the leadership, supported by the Madison County delegation, which resulted in passage by the Alabama Legislature of the act increasing funding for the Law Library. The then presiding Circuit Judge Thomas N. Younger and his brother, William C. Younger, then the Alabama Supreme Court Marshal and Librarian, were leaders in the effort to secure additional funding for the Elbert H. Parsons Public Law Library.