By Chanton Pace
Motlow Buzz Reporter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee lawyer Jerry H. Summers spoke at Fort Negley on April 12, 2017, telling the audience that “You don't just get anywhere on your own.”
Summers, a well-known Tennessee lawyer who has argued cases before the United States and Tennessee supreme courts, provided insights on one of the most forgotten trials of the 20th century, Schoolfield 1958. In his book, “Rush to Justice?”, Summers recounts the trials and tribulations of Judge Raulston Schoolfield.
“I wanted to tell this story because I feel like it is a forgotten piece of history,” said Summers.
About 53 people showed up to the event eager to hear what Summers had to say about the topic. Audience members lined up early to hear him speak. Summers spoke for approximately an hour and even talked some about his personal life and how he became a lawyer.
“I went to Sewanee to earn my bachelor’s and then to University of Tennessee Knoxville to earn a law degree,” said Summers.
“Rush to Justice?” centers on Schoolfield’s influential 1958 trial in Nashville, Tennessee.
In his book, Summers writes about the legal career of Schoolfield, including his impeachment and removal from office as a criminal law judge on charges of bribery and extorting campaign funds from racketeers. The Tennessee Senate convicted Schoolfield of three impeachment charges of unethical conduct, plus 19 other charges.
“Schoolfield had a lot of enemies,” he said. “A lot of politics were involved.”
Summers also talked about how Schoolfield was a man of the people and how much the community loved him. “A lot of people supported Schoolfield, especially Hamilton County. Those people loved him down there.”
After his speech, Summers gave audience members about 15 minutes to ask any questions that they had about his career or the Schoolfield 1958 trial. One man asked Summers to say who was right or wrong in the trial. Summers responded back, “That my friend is for you to decide. I know that is not the answer that you want to hear, but I wanted to tell this story for what it is and not who was right or wrong.”
After his presentation, audience members lined up to meet Summers and to buy his book.
Summers signed autographs and posed for pictures. He even gave one child a free book and an autograph.
“Remember that you don’t just get anywhere on your own,” he told the boy. “Someone always helps you get there.”
You can find Summer's book,” Rush to Justice?”, at Amazon.com for $40.
Summers is a lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Hamilton County. Summers has served as president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and the Tennessee Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He has served on the national boards of the American Association for Justice and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and he is a life member of both the state and national organizations. He also has another book, “The Turtle and the Lawyer,” that talks about the people who helped him get to the position where he is.
The event was hosted by the Tennessee Historical Society. The group's next event will occur at Fort Negley on May 3, when Dr. Abigail R. Gautreau speaks about the court case “State vs. Jane, a Slave in 1841.” For more information about the event, visit www.Tennesseehistory.org.
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