H. Thomas Wells Jr., will become president of the American Bar Association in August. He is a partner and founding member at Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C., in Birmingham, Ala. His practice is focused on complex environmental, toxic tort law and products liability litigation. Wells has served in leadership roles in the Alabama State Bar, the Birmingham Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He was co-chair of the ABA’s Special Committee on Disaster Response, established after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and has served on the ABA Commission on the American Jury and its Commission on the Future of the Legal Profession. Wells will receive the honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the morning ceremony.

The following honorees will join Wells in receiving honorary degrees from the Law School:

* The Hon, Michael E. Capuano, representative, Eight Congressional District, honorary Doctor of Laws

* The Hon. Richard G. Stearns, U.S. District judge, District of Massachusetts, honorary Doctor of Laws

* The Hon. Laura Taylor Swain, U.S. District judge, Southern District of New York, honorary Doctor of Laws