Jere Beasley


Jere Locke Beasley is an American trial attorney and politician; he served as acting governor of the US state of Alabama from June 5 to July 7, 1972. His law firm has been noted nationally for winning major awards for its clients; among them was an $11.8 billion punitive damage award against ExxonMobil in 2003.

Early life, education and marriage

Beasley was born in 1935 in Tyler, Texas, the son of Browder Locke and Florence Beasley. He was raised in Clayton, Alabama, where his father ran a small grocery store.
Beasley received his B.S. degree from Auburn University and in 1958 married Sara Baker. He earned a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1962. He worked for various law firms until he opened his own practice in 1965.

Political career

Beasley joined the Democratic Party, as Alabama was essentially a one-party state after 1901, when it adopted a new constitution.
In 1970 Beasley won the first round of the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor but he failed to win a majority. He won the runoff.
He was serving as 22nd Lieutenant Governor when Governor George Corley Wallace was shot and severely injured in an assassination attempt in Laurel, Maryland, on May 15, 1972. Since Wallace was out-of-state for more than 20 days, recovering in a Maryland hospital, the Alabama Constitution required that the lieutenant governor take over temporarily as acting governor.
In 1974 Beasley faced a strong challenge from Charles Woods, who finished first in the primary. Beasley, like in 1970, won the runoff. He sought the nomination for governor in 1978, but finished a distant fifth.
In 2009, Beasley served as the campaign chairperson for Alabama gubernatorial candidate, Artur Davis, then a Democrat.

Electoral history

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1970
Democratic runoff for Lieutenant Governor
Race for Lieutenant Governor, 1970
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor, 1974
Democratic runoff for Lieutenant Governor
Race for Lieutenant Governor, 1974
Democratic primary for Governor, 1978
After a strong but unsuccessful push to win the Governor’s office during the 1978 election, Beasley left politics. He and his wife, Sara, were at peace with the outcome. Determined to pay all the political campaign’s financial obligations, the Beasleys realized it was time for Jere Beasley to return to practicing law. With no offers on the table from existing firms, the option they were left with was for Beasley to start his own, new firm. After seeking the advice of his friend and mentor, the esteemed civil rights leader and Federal Judge Frank M. Johnson, Beasley was clear about his calling and the purpose of the firm. His new practice would be a safe harbor for those who need help. He would do what many lawyers refused to do at the time – take on powerful corporate interests on behalf of consumers and hard-working employees, or “the little man” as others have described.
Founded on the principle of “helping those who need it most,” the firm was established to provide legal service to both individuals and businesses who have been wronged by no act of their own. That principle still serves as the bedrock for the firm’s work. The firm, which is known today as , has grown to more than 85 attorneys in two locations – Montgomery and Atlanta – and more than 200 support staff including full-time nurses, investigators, computer specialists, technologists, a marketing department, and a comprehensive trial graphics team. On Jan. 7, 2019, Beasley Allen celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Beasley is noted as a trial lawyer, and his firm has a national reputation for winning major awards for its clients.

Notable Cases

Beasley’s law firm has handed the following major cases:
Beasley is actively involved various civic endeavors, including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Lions Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He currently serves as a member of the Staff Parish Relations for St. James United Methodist Church.
In 2006, Beasley was named “Citizen of the Year” by the March of Dimes.
In January 2010, Beasley was selected as the recipient of the Montgomery Sunrise Rotary Club’s Commitment to Service Award, recognizing his dedication to helping others and improving the community and the River Region.
In January 2020, Beasley was presented with the Montgomery County Bar Association Service & Achievement Award. The award was created to recognize Montgomery lawyers who have distinguished themselves through their exemplary service to the local community and bar. The honor is presented to a lawyer who demonstrates the highest standard of professionalism and is respected for outstanding legal ability.
In 2018, Beasley Allen Law Firm was awarded the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s Montgomery Impact Maker Award for its revitalization efforts in downtown Montgomery and its overall contribution to the local community. The firm was instrumental in securing the Montgomery Biscuits minor league baseball team and for providing the land for the Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium, which was respectfully constructed by preserving a large section of the original historic building and built on land owned by the firm. When the stadium opened in 2004, it served as a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown.
In 2018, the firm was also awarded the Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery’s James L. Loeb Preservation Award for its contribution to preserving Montgomery’s historic resources and heritage, specifically capitalizing on the distinctive architectural character of lower Commerce Street. The firm has purchased and renovated several buildings along Commerce Street, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 with boundary expansions in 1982 and 1987.