Member Spotlight
NCBF Special Spotlight: Chief Justice Sarah H. Stewart
Featured Speaker and Attendee at the 2026 NCBF Annual Meeting & Conference
The National Conference of Bar Foundations (NCBF) is thrilled to welcome Chief Justice Sarah H. Stewart of the Alabama Supreme Court as a featured speaker and attendee at our 2026 Annual Meeting and Conference, taking place August 13–15, 2026, in Montgomery, Alabama. This year’s gathering, themed “Cornerstone of Progress: Resilience and Access to Justice,” will bring together bar foundation leaders from across the country at the Elevation Convening Center and Hotel. Chief Justice Stewart’s participation highlights the vital partnership between the judiciary and bar foundations in advancing equal justice for all.6
A Trailblazing Leader in Alabama’s Judiciary
Chief Justice Sarah Hicks Stewart (often referred to as Justice Sarah H. Stewart) was elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in November 2024 and assumed office on January 24, 2025. She is the first Republican woman elected to serve as Chief Justice in Alabama history.1,2
Alabama Chief Justice Stewart Being Sworn In on January 24, 2025. Courtesy of Alabama Daily News.
Prior to her role as Chief Justice, she served as an Associate Justice on the Alabama Supreme Court from 2019 to 2025. Before ascending to the state’s highest court, she spent 13 years as a Circuit Judge in Mobile County, where she was appointed in 2006 by Governor Bob Riley and became the first female jury trial judge in Mobile. During her time on the circuit bench, she served as statewide Education Chair for the Circuit Judges Association for eight years and was elected the first female president of that association.3
Her extensive judicial service includes leadership on key committees, such as co-chairing the Alabama State Bar’s Professionalism in the Bench and Bar initiative and serving on the Supreme Court’s standing committee on the Alabama Rules of Evidence.3
Before her judicial career, Chief Justice Stewart practiced law for 14 years in private practice, where she became the first female president of the Mobile Young Lawyers and was actively involved in the Mobile Bar Association. In 2022, she received the Trailblazer Award from the Mobile Bar Association in recognition of her leadership and contributions to the legal profession.4
Education and Early Leadership
Chief Justice Stewart earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1992, where she received the American Jurisprudence Award for the highest grade in Torts II and Evidence and served as vice president of the Law Student Association. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (1985) and a Master of Arts in Communication (1986) from the University of Arkansas, where she was President of the Student Government Association and a member of several honor societies.3
Commitment to Access to Justice
As Chief Justice, Stewart has emphasized expanding access to treatment courts (including drug courts, veterans courts, and other accountability courts) and reducing recidivism through thoughtful, deliberate programs. Her vision aligns closely with NCBF’s mission of advancing access to justice and supporting bar foundations that serve as cornerstones of progress in their communities.5
Join Us in Montgomery
The 2026 NCBF Annual Meeting offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from Chief Justice Stewart as she shares insights on the judiciary’s role in strengthening access to justice, resilience in challenging times, and collaboration with bar foundations. The conference will also feature sessions on branding, funding models, AI applications, supporting grantees, rural access to justice, and more, along with networking, awards, and the annual meeting of members.
Register today for the 2026 NCBF Annual Meeting & Conference: https://ncbf.org/product/2026-ncbf-annual-meeting-and-conference-august-13-august-15-2026/
Learn more about NCBF: https://ncbf.org
Official biography of Chief Justice Sarah H. Stewart: https://judicial.alabama.gov/CourtMemberBio/ViewBio?id=42
We are honored to have Chief Justice Stewart join us in Montgomery—a city deeply rooted in the nation’s struggle for justice—and look forward to the inspiration and leadership she will bring to our community of bar foundation professionals.
For sponsorship opportunities or additional information, please contact the NCBF team. We can’t wait to see everyone in August 2026!
Footnotes
- AP News (November 6, 2024) – Election results and historic first.
- Alabama Daily News (January 26, 2025) – Swearing-in ceremony.
- Official Alabama Judicial System Biography (State of Alabama) – Primary source for career timeline, appointments, leadership roles, education, and awards.
- BirminghamWatch Voter Guide (2024) – Additional details on leadership and Trailblazer Award.
- Alabama Daily News (November 7, 2024) – Commitment to treatment courts and reducing recidivism.
- NCBF 2026 Conference Page – Conference details and theme.
This special spotlight was prepared for NCBF members, the legal community, and our supporters. For tickets to the 2026 Annual Meeting and Conference or sponsorship opportunities and additional information, please visit https://ncbf.org and https://ncbf.org/2026-annual-meeting-and-conference-sponsorships/