News Post

POINT CLEAR, Ala. – July 21, 2025 – At the conclusion of the Alabama State Bar’s 2025 Annual Meeting, held July 16-19, attorney Jana Russell Garner officially assumed the office of President-Elect of the 19,600-member organization. Garner, who was elected by the Bar’s membership in May, will serve in this role for the 2025–2026 Bar year before becoming the 151st president of the Alabama State Bar in July 2026.

“I am deeply honored to serve as President-Elect of the Alabama State Bar,” Garner said. “This organization has been a meaningful part of my professional life for many years. I’m committed to advocating for all Alabama lawyers, focusing on practical, unifying solutions that help lawyers succeed in both their work and their lives, enabling them to better serve their clients and communities.”

A 1997 graduate of Cumberland School of Law, Garner is a solo practitioner with offices in Selma and Tuscaloosa. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants, whether individuals, families, and/or businesses throughout the State, concentrating her practice in central and west Alabama. She also serves as a registered mediator in trial court and appellate matters. With nearly three decades of legal experience and deep involvement in Bar service, she brings a strong foundation of leadership and perspective to her new role.

She has previously served several times on the Executive Council of the Alabama State Bar. In addition to numerous committee and task force appointments over the years, she served as Chair of the State Bar’s Dispute Resolution Section, the Solo and Small Firm Section, and the Pro Bono Committee and as an officer of the Litigation Section. She has received the Alabama State Bar President’s Award multiple times, the Commissioner’s Award, and the Al Vreeland Pro Bono Award, among other professional honors.

Garner currently serves as a Judge on the Alabama Court of the Judiciary and a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Alabama Rules of Evidence. She is a Life Fellow of both the Alabama Law Foundation and the American Bar Foundation.

Garner and her husband of 21 years, Paul, have two children, Sam and Fairchild. They are members of Christ Episcopal Church.

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The Alabama State Bar (ASB) is the official licensing and regulatory organization of lawyers in Alabama. Created in 1879, the Alabama State Bar became an integrated bar in 1923 by an act of the legislature. Since then, ASB programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system. It is dedicated to promoting the professional responsibility and competence of its members, improving the administration of justice, and increasing the public understanding of and respect for the law.

Media Contact:
Melissa Warnke
Director of Communications, Alabama State Bar
(334) 517.2218
melissa.warnke@alabar.org