Ralph W. Hornsby, Jr.

Profile by Jeff Blackwell

One of the best cross-examinations I have ever heard was done by Ralph Hornsby, Jr. He and Bud Watson were trying a highly publicized nursing home case. The courtroom was full of spectators everyday. Law firms were sending summer interns and associates to watch because of the high level of trial skills on both sides and because of the expected verdict. Ralph, Jr. was cross-examining the manager of the nursing home. He knew she had six points of vulnerability. He hit them. He was gentlemanly, but he was forceful. It was really a professional job. When the case was over, a record verdict came and Bud Watson left a copy of that cross-examination transcript in Ralph, Jr.s’ office chair with a note that he should save it for his grand kids. That was early in Ralph, Jr.’s career with the firm. He is not much older than I am and had graduated with a great record from the University of Alabama School of Law, only a few years before I did. But he was handling high level litigation and doing it with real skill.

Things seem to come easy to Ralph, Jr.  He has a great personality and seems to always get more in negotiations than others might because he has such a great way of interacting with people.  Ralph, Jr. and I have tried a number of cases together and that personality is always an asset with the Court and with jurors.
 
It's not just personality though.  Ralph, Jr. is a great student of the law and, as that cross-examination demonstrated, a highly competent trial lawyer.  He is a graduate of the National College of Trial Advocacy.  But even more significant in his business, Ralph, Jr. really cares about his clients and wants to help them.  That's the part about him I most want to emulate.
 
Ralph, Jr. is a member of the Alabama State Bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and the U.S. Supreme Court.  He is a member of the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association and the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association.  He also serves as a Barrister in the Madison County American Inns of Court. 

Ralph, Jr. is married to Betty. They have twin girls and another on the way.