Who:
Austin Shutt
Assistant General Counsel in the Employment, Litigation and Creditor’s Rights and Recovery group of the Regions Bank Legal Department
What:
Shutt was presented with the Judge Advocate Association’s Outstanding Career Judge Advocate Award, which recognizes exceptional contributions to the Armed Services by career attorneys serving as Judge Advocates. Judge advocates, also known as JAG (Judge Advocate General) officers, are military lawyers who serve as legal advisors, prosecutors, and defense attorneys for the military.
Each branch of service is invited to nominate candidates who are serving on active duty or in a reserve or guard status. Nominees must have a demonstrated record of outstanding professional accomplishments, service to community, service to the legal profession and development of subordinates. The Judge Advocate General of each branch of service, along with the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, participate in the selection process. Shutt was nominated for the award by his command.
Why:
Shutt has been in the United States Coast Guard for 18 years, including eight years on active duty and 10 as a reservist. He currently serves as the senior reserve JAG for the Coast Guard’s Heartland District, based out of New Orleans. In that role he leads a team of reserve attorneys that support Coast Guard operations and personnel, performing criminal investigations, personnel actions, ethics and standards of conduct advice, operational law and direct legal assistance to members. The team also deploys in support of emergency operations, such as hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Shutt joined Regions Legal department just over a year ago, supporting the subpoena team and overseeing non-routine subpoenas and court orders, as well as government investigations and criminal litigation. Prior to Regions he was an Assistant United States Attorney based in Birmingham.
In His Own Words:
“I am quite humbled to receive this recognition. I’ve worked with a great number of talented and dedicated service members over the years, so it is certainly an honor to be recognized among them. I see this more as a recognition of my family and others – like my colleagues at Regions – who support my service. Without their flexibility, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to spend time away serving with the Coast Guard, whether at routine drills or in response to emergencies. They are the reason I can make an impact through military service.”