Alabama Lawyer Hall of Honor

The Alabama Lawyer Hall of Honor was established in 2020 by the Board of Governors of the Law School Foundation to recognize the outstanding achievement of Alabama Law alumni and faculty. Criteria for the award include making significant and extended contributions to the life of the Law School, having a distinguished career, and sustaining involvement in service activities.

Judy Whalen Evans
Class of 1975

Judy Whalen Evans has been a well-respected civil trial litigator for nearly 50 years in Jefferson County, Alabama. Evans received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Alabama with highest honors and earned her JD from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1975.

While in Law School, Evans was the first female president of the Student Bar Association, a Hugo L. Black Scholar, a recipient of the Dean’s Award, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and was recognized by Who’s Who in American Universities.

Evans has remained involved at Alabama Law. For the past 15 years, Evans has served on the Law School Foundation Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Board of Governors. She is also a former president of the Law School Alumni Association and has served as an adjunct professor in trial advocacy. Evans is a Law School Patron and a supporter of her alma mater, the University of North Alabama. Because of scholarships awarded to her as a student, Evans was inspired to endow two scholarships at UNA to aid students interested in attending law school.

Evans was the first female officer elected to the Birmingham Bar Association and remains a longtime member of the American, Alabama, and Birmingham Bar Associations and the Association for Legal Justice.

She attends the St. Thomas Episcopal Church and has two adult children, Maurine C. Evans and D. Patrick Evans, both of whom are accomplished trial lawyers in Birmingham.